Finland: Reflective reindeer antlers aim to stop accidents

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Reindeer treated with reflective substanceImage source, Anne Ollila
Image caption,
Thousands of reindeer are killed on dark roads in Finland every year

Herders in Lapland are spraying their reindeer with reflective paint to help drivers see them in the dark, it appears.

The special spray is being tested on their fur and antlers to see how it holds up in different weather conditions, Finnish national broadcaster YLE reports.

"The aim is to prevent traffic accidents. The spray is being tested on fur at the moment, but it may be even more effective on the antlers, because they are seen from every side," says Anne Ollila, chairwoman of the Reindeer Herders Association.

As many as 4,000 reindeer die in traffic accidents every year in Finland, the Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute says. Most incidents occur in the dark months of November and December, when roads are prone to becoming icy, the Helsingen Sanomat newspaper reports.

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