Reindeer in South Georgia

Reindeer in South Georgia are an example of an animal which has been introduced outside its native range. The reindeer, a species of deer adapted to arctic and subarctic climates, was introduced to the subantarctic island of South Georgia by Norwegian whalers in the early 20th century. The reason for the introduction was to provide both recreational hunting and fresh meat for the numerous people working in the whaling industry on the island at the time. Since then, with the end of the whaling industry, and in the absence of a permanently resident population, the reindeer population, in two geographically separated wild herds, increased to the point where their presence was causing environmental damage and led to a decision to eradicate them.

The first introduction was made by the brothers C.A. and L.E. Larsen in November 1911. Three males and seven females from Hemsedal in southern Norway were released at Ocean Harbour (then the site of an active whaling station) on the Barff Peninsula, on the northern coast of South Georgia. These formed the basis of what came to be called the Barff herd which, by 1958, had increased to 3000 animals. A 1976 population estimate of 1900 head indicated subsequent decrease, though with some range expansion to Royal Bay.

A second introduction was made in 1912 by the Christian Salvesen Company. Two male and three female reindeer were left at Leith Harbour in Stromness Bay, also on the north coast of the island. By 1918 they had increased to 20 animals, but the entire herd was killed by an avalanche that year.

The third introduction took place in 1925; three males and four females were released at Husvik Harbour in Stromness Bay. These became the nucleus of what became known as the Busen herd, the numbers of which increased slowly to 40 in 1953 before climbing rapidly to about 800 head by the early 1990s. The source of the animals was the same as that of the Barff herd.

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