The macabre life of Russia's Arctic reindeer herders
Killing thousands of reindeer each year is controversial, but it's part of a herder's job

by Jackie Friedman
January 2, 2017

Herders select and sort reindeer inside an enclosure on Nov. 29, 2016.
(REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin)But such a dense population can threaten the fragile landscape of Siberia's northern Yamal region and cause more frequent epidemics within the local nomadic communit

A tent belonging to reindeer herders in the tundra, Nov. 27, 2016.
(REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin)

(REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin)

(REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin)

Herders select and sort reindeer.
(REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin)

Herders select and sort reindeer.
(REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin)

Severed reindeer antlers.
(REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin)

Farm employees process reindeer skin.
(REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin)

REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

Severed reindeer antlers.
(REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin)