Over 100 reindeer killed by freight trains in Norway

More than 100 reindeer have been killed by freight trains in Norway in recent days, a herder has revealed.

Torstein Appfjell, a reindeer herder in Helgeland county, said the worst incident happened on Saturday when 65 animals were mown down.

Mr Appfjell said it was “totally tragic” and “unprecedented” for so many reindeer to lose their lives in this way. A total of 106 reindeer have been killed since Thursday.

Mr Appfjell represents four families in the area with a total of around 2,000 reindeer.

He said that in the worst previous 12-month period, 250 animals were killed in train accidents.

VG newspaper reports that Bane Nor, which operates the trains, has now reduced speeds in the area.