Multi-species reindeer pasture and the baiting-based brown bear photography sites

Abstract

In this article, we examine the impacts of large predator baiting-based wildlife photography sites on reindeer herding in the south-eastern part of the Finnish reindeer herding area. Baiting for large carnivores is a growing form of wildlife tourism that offers an opportunity to observe and photograph wildlife, particularly brown bears, in their natural habitat. However, as these businesses extend into reindeer herding areas, the coexistence of these two different nature-based livelihoods has become a subject of concern, especially from the perspective of reindeer herders. According to the public statements of the local reindeer herders, the possibilities for reindeer herding in the area are diminishing due to the bear photography operations.

To analyze this situation, we introduce a new concept, called multi-species reindeer pasture, drawing from social scientific and posthumanist environmental theory. Developing the concept of multi-species reindeer pasture serves as a tool to in our article for examining the construction and change of the naturecultural dynamics in the region from the perspective of reindeer herding practices. The research is based on interviews conducted with reindeer herders living in Kuusamo, Suomussalmi, and Taivalkoski during the summer and autumn of 2021.