- 42 reindeer from Norway have crossed into Russia this 12 months looking for higher pastures.
- However Russia desires over $4.4 million in compensation for the reindeer grazing in a nationwide park.
- Norway is now repairing a rundown fence between the 2 international locations to forestall future crossings.
Russia is demanding compensation from Norway for runaway reindeer chewing up Russian grassland.
Each international locations share a standard border within the Arctic. And whereas there is a fence to forestall reindeer from crossing borders, that barrier dates again to 1954 with elements in disrepair, the Norwegian Directorate of Agriculture mentioned in a press release final Thursday.
The rundown fence has allowed 42 reindeer to cross into Russia this 12 months looking for higher pastures in Pasvik Zapovednik, a Russian nationwide park.
However the crossings may show expensive.
Russia has already despatched two compensation claims to Norway for the runaway reindeer for all of the grazing, in response to the identical assertion.
One declare is for about 50,000 kroner, or $4,700, per reindeer that crossed into Russia. The opposite declare is for a lump sum of almost 47 million kroner, or $4.4 million. The latter declare is calculated based mostly on the full variety of days the reindeer have spent grazing within the nationwide park.
The Norwegian agriculture authority plans to fulfill with the Russian nationwide park to debate compensation.
The authority mentioned that 40 of the 42 reindeer that crossed into Russia have been returned and slaughtered for worry they’d cross into Russia once more. The opposite two could possibly be returned quickly.
In the meantime, Norway’s agriculture directorate has reminded individuals to maintain their reindeer in examine. Reindeer are herded by the indigenous Sami individuals in Norway.
“It’s strictly forbidden to cross the border into Russia, for reindeer too,” the Norwegian Directorate of Agriculture mentioned in a press release final Thursday, in response to an AFP translation.
Norway can be repairing a 7-kilometer, or 4.3-mile, part of the reindeer fence at the price of 3.7 million kroner. The repairs are anticipated to be accomplished by October 1.
The Norwegian Directorate of Agriculture and Russia’s pure assets and surroundings ministry didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark from Insider despatched outdoors common enterprise hours.
