Norway records ‘highly unusual’ reindeer deaths

OSLO - Norwegian authorities on Aug 6 reported more than a dozen unexplained reindeer deaths in the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic, considered “highly unusual” for the summer season.During an annual count, 13 recently deceased reindeer – 11 females and two males – have so far been found in two Svalbard valleys located a little over a 1,000km from the North Pole, the local governor’s office announced.“It is very unusual for females of breeding age and adult males to die during the summer. That’s why we want to monitor this development closely,” it said.The causes of death are not yet known, and authorities have called on the public to report any new carcass finds.The Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) told AFP it had “no clear indication nor any specific hypothesis” to expla