Authorities on Norway's Svalbard archipelago have discovered an unusually high number of dead Svalbard reindeer during the summer season, a phenomenon the governor's office called highly unusual for breeding-age animals at this time of year.
During an annual count, researchers found 13 recently deceased reindeer — 11 females and two males — across two valleys on the Arctic island chain, located roughly 1,000 kilometres from the North Pole. The Norwegian Institute for Nature Research said there are no clear indications or concrete hypothesis to explain the deaths.
The archipelago is home to roughly 22,000 Svalbard reindeer, a subspecies found only on the island group. Officials are continuing to investigate the cause of the fatalities.