After a century recovering from hunting, the Svalbard reindeer now faces the challenges of life in a warming world
Photos bySTEFANO UNTERTHINER
Snowy skirmish
One of seven reindeer subspecies found in circumpolar locations across the globe, the Svalbard reindeer is endemic to the Norwegian archipelago that shares its name. In the early 1900s, it nearly went extinct following intense hunting for its meat, but since gaining protection in 1925, has recovered and recolonised its former range. Stefano took this shot using a drone in the Adventdalen Valley, near Longyearbyen. It was October, the start of the rutting season, and these two males were engaged in a bout of light sparring.
Head to head
Two bulls battle for control of a harem of females during the October mating season. This was an aggressive tussle, and though it only lasted for 10 minutes, both parties were completely exhausted by the time the dominant male (right) saw off his adversary.
On the run
Svalbard reindeer have no significant predators (though occasional attacks by polar bears have been recorded) and are therefore fairly sedentary creatures. Nonetheless, they are capable of galloping at high speed when a hasty exit is required.
ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Stefano Unterthiner is an award-winning Italian photographer and lives with his family in the Aosta Valley. His images have been widely published and he has authored several books. See more of his work at stefanounterthiner.com.
In a tangle
A male with a length of discarded metal rope caught around his antlers. According to Stefano, this was likely a result of the animal rubbing his appendages on the ground, a common way to display dominance during the rutting season.
Antlers away
Males develop their large antlers in spring (April to July). The soft covering, known as velvet, is discarded from August to September, and the antlers are shed completely in winter. Unlike other deer, female reindeer also carry antlers, which they develop in June. These are smaller than those of the males and are retained until spring.
Snowfall supper
As autumn slowly turns to winter, a small herd of reindeer grazes in a blizzard. It was about -20°C, but the mercury can dip to -30°C in Svalbard. Feeding is challenging in winter, when the vegetation is covered in snow, so the animals rely on their fat reserves to see them through.
Feast for a fox
Starvation is the most common cause of
