I'm getting close to finishing my "culture" chapter in "Carcass!" I'm basically waiting for some interviews to fill in some gaps, so I've officially started the next chapter: livestock.
Since the season is thematic of reindeer, here are some more pics of the reindeer herders.
My photography teacher at BU was really into humans, and he had a point. Humans are very active and diverse and pictures of them tend to hold a lot of meaning. So while reindeer are much cuter than humans, the pictures with people tell better stories IMO. I'm glad I took that class.
Some context just in case you're worried about anything: This is a roundup and the reindeer are being caught and having their ears cut. It is legally required to mark your reindeer with a pattern of cutting, just like American beef producers have to tag their animals. The reindeer do not appear to like being caught, having their ears cut, and vaccinated but I'm sure they'd prefer the vaccine to fly infestations. After getting their shots and being marked (by cutting some fur on their sides, no blood) they are separated into different groups, some of which will be killed for the family to eat and possibly sell privately, and some are going to an industrial slaughterhouse to be sold commercially, just like cattle. The slaughter process is actually pretty similar to what I've seen in American slaughterhouses. Other reindeer will just be shipped across the water to the mainland and then herded to their winter pastures.
