Lightning Strike Kills More Than 300 Wild Reindeer In Norway

More than 300 wild reindeer were killed by a lighting strike in central Norway, according to the Norwegian Environment Agency.

An inspector for Norway’s wildlife and environmental protection agency Statens naturoppsyn (SNO) encountered an animal tragedy while out making his rounds on a mountain plateau just before the weekend.

A total of 323 of the animals were confirmed dead and it is believed that the flock was struck by lightning when a powerful storm passed through Telemark. Kjartan Knutsen said “We have not heard about such numbers before…”

Approximately 10,000 reindeer migrate over an area of 8,000 square kilometres on Hardangervidda, making it Norway’s largest wild reindeer range.

Dead reindeer after the lightning strike.

Norwegian authorities have yet to decide what to do with the animals.

According to the agency, 323 animals will killed during the lightning storm.

It is the second time this month that a large group of animals has been killed by lightning. The reserve chose to “let nature take its course”, according to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service account – and against the odds, the bison’s tale had a happy ending.

In the USA, cattle, elk and other animals are far more likely to die from lightning than people are.

Back in 2014, a single lightning bolt killed 45 head of cattle on a ranch in Montana after they tried to take cover under some trees.

The book goes on: “Rain from a passing thunderstorm wet the ground and sheep, causing the lightning’s electrical discharge to move completely through the herd of female sheep and lambs”.