CANADA'S REINDEER HERD

Evening Star, Issue 22462, 6 October 1936, Page 12

CANADA'S REINDEER HERD

SHOWS HEALTHY INCREASE Far out on the northern rim of th* continent officers of the Dominion’s Department of the Interior have completed the annual round-up of Canada’s reindeer herd, which was driven to the Mackenzie River area from Alaska in a three-year trek. The original herd of 2,370 animals has grown to 3,750. The annual round-up was completed in August, when the animals were put through the corrals and counted. The young animals were marked and certain mature steers and aged females surplus to the requirements of the herd were reported to be available, for the autumn slaughter. The count showed that, in addition to the above number* of fawns, the herd includes 1.<6- adult females, 603 yearling and adult bulls, And ddd. st6crs. At the conclusion of the 1935 roundup it was estimated 1 that the original herd of 2.370 animals had grown to over 3,000. During the “winter of 193536 some 300 surplus animals were slaughtered to provide food and clothing for the assistance of natives in the Aklavik region and for other departmental purposes. This year’s total indicates an increase of nearly 1,000 in the size of the herd, which is considered highly gratifying. ■ The movement of the herd to its winter grazing grounds in the great 6.600 square mile preserve was made in early fall. The animals were herded slowly toward the protection of the rolling country in the southern part of the preserve. Hero during the long Arctic winter they are tended by the herders in charge, assisted by the native apprentices who have been selected for training as part of the Dominion Government’s scheme of developing among the Eskimos the art of reindeer husbandry.