Abstract
Animal husbandry is a recent innovation in Greenland, specifically reindeer husbandry is less than 50 years old. Reindeer husbandry was first established in mid-west Greenland and later in southern Greenland. The Greenland hunter tradition and culture is, however, still dominant in many communities. During the 1980s and 1990s, the incompatibility of these two traditions resulted in the failure of reindeer husbandry in mid-west Greenland. There were neither herding nor seasonal herd movements. Animals remained year round on the winter range, which was destroyed as lichens were trampled every summer. Without seasonal herd movements both sustainable range use and control of the herd were lost. Today, there are just two semi-domestic reindeer herds left, and both are in southern Greenland. One herd is commercially successful, and the other is under development. In mid-west Greenland, semi-domestic reindeer husbandry officially ended in 1998, and a hunt was initiated to remove the remaining population. Possibly, by the year 2000 any animals left in this region will be considered wild caribou.
Highlights
Prior to the introduction of the semi-domestic reindeer from Norway, the indigenous west Greenland caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) inhabited the west coast of Greenland from Thule in the north-west, 77°N, down to the southern tip of the country, 60°N
In 1998 the greatest abundance of west Greenland caribou can be found between 62°-68°N
Reindeer herding in southern Greenland has prospered
Summary
Prior to the introduction of the semi-domestic reindeer from Norway, the indigenous west Greenland caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) inhabited the west coast of Greenland from Thule in the north-west, 77°N, down to the southern tip of the country, 60°N. Following some years of debate and discussion amongst the Danish and Greenlandic authorities (Fynbo, 1954a), in 1952, domestic reindeer were brought from Norway and released in mid-west. Ole Kristiansen, Greenlander and present co-owner of the Isortoq herd in southern Greenland, received training in reindeer husbandry at Itivnera. He completed a two year course for reindeer husbandry in Norway (Aastrup, 1978). Four other Greenlanders received training at Itivnera (Aastrup, 1978), including Pavia Berthelsen, who had responsibility for the Kangerlupiluk herd for four years (1971-1975). Already by 1977, of the five who had received training, only Ole Kristiansen remained involved in reindeer husbandry (Aastrup, 1978)
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