I traveled over 100 miles across the High Arctic tundra, glaciers and sea ice to observe and document Svalbard’s best kept wildlife secret. Reindeer are a keystone of Svalbard’s history and they have inhabited the area for over five thousand years. This journey quickly turned into a perfectly paired quest for wildlife and photography.
A Journey to Photograph Arctic Reindeer
IMAGE CAPTURED AT
78.24703° N, 17.28961° E
Adapted to the Arctic
Svalbard’s reindeer are short legged and have smaller, rounder heads with lighter colored fur. Surprisingly enough, I found these grazing mammals comfortable in the cold environment and very watchful of their surroundings. They are not overly afraid of humans or animals, but with one newer exception, the polar bear. The number of polar bear attacks on Svalbard reindeer are increasing. On this journey, I did observe polar bear tracks near a bloodied reindeer carcass close to the sea ice.
I was traveling in February, so it was still very much winter. Because of this, it was not uncommon to see the reindeer feeding on mountain slopes and ridge lines, where snow has less of a chance to accumulate and drift. Experts believe these reindeer need to eat four to eight kilograms a day to survive. My observations at this time of year were that it was rare to see these reindeer not looking for food (lichen, moss, etc) during daytime hours.
Magical Arctic Lighting
One of the main reasons I visit the High Arctic in late February is because the lighting can be magical. Depending on the day in February, you may only see a few hours of actual light from the sun. With the right lighting and weather conditions the sky turns into a masterpiece of blue and orange. This photo is an example of these beautiful animals with an incredible backdrop of coloring often seen during this time of year.
Overall, this was an incredible journey across the High Arctic where I observed the daily life of Svalbard reindeer and the difficult life they live. Their story and will to survive in this environment is a testament to being a fundamental part of Svalbard history.
I Met Mike on an Expedition in the Arctic Fjords. He Put Together Some Very Nice Videos I Will Be Using for My Business.
Henrick H.
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