Feeli the Finnish reindeer,
Had some very shiny horns …
OK, we’ll stop there.
Here’s the news:
“Herders in Lapland are spraying their reindeer with reflective paint to help drivers see them in the dark,” the BBC writes.
It’s an experiment to see if glow-in-the-dark antlers might help herders reduce the number of reindeer killed each year on highways. According to Helsingen Sanomat, the largest circulation newspaper in Scandinavia, on average 4,000 reindeer die in Finland each year when they’re hit by vehicles.
So, Finland’s Reindeer Herders’ Association is testing fluorescent spray — on the animals’ fur as well as their antlers.
The Two-Way
Cats That Glow For AIDS Research Join List Of Animals That Shine
Reindeer herding is a big business in Finland. According to data kept by the Finnish Forest Association, there are more than 7,000 reindeer herders in the country. About 5.5 million pounds of reindeer meat is produced in the country each year, the Forest Association says.
Even though the Herders’ Association has built a 1,200-mile-long fence on the borders of the animals’ grazing lands, it’s not possible to keep all of the 200,000 or so reindeer that the herders’ care for from crossing highways.
Perhaps the glow paint will help drivers avoid some collisions.
By the way, we’re aware that horns and antlers “are often used interchangeably” but aren’t really the same thing. But you try fitting “antlers” into the opening lines of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Seriously, try it in the comments thread!
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Read original article – February 20, 2014 1:47 PM
These Reindeer Really Do Glow, And It’s For Their Own Good
