Lars Nihke Svonni is 78 years old and says he does not remember that they have ever separated the reindeer in this cold, minus 30 is common but not minus 40.
He believes that it would have been better with milder weather, but he is not worried that the reindeer will be bothered too much by the cold, as long as there is no wind. Cold and wind are worse for the reindeer, he believes.
– The reindeer can withstand quite a lot, it would have been extinct a long time ago if it wasn’t so durable.
How do people cope in the cold when they have to work hard physically?
– The people manage, they are so well furred, but then they can’t cope with the reindeer, laughs Lars Nihke and continues:
– We have fires, just go to the fire and warm yourself for a while.
Proper clothing is important
Anna Britta Rikko is a nurse and says that people who have to work hard physically in the cold must think a little differently compared to when the weather is milder.
– It’s good to move, but if you get out of breath and start to get tired, then you should sit down and rest. You always have to think about how you will manage afterwards too.
Can it be dangerous to exert yourself physically in the cold?
– For some people it can be dangerous, for those who have problems with their lungs and find it difficult to breathe. But for others I don’t think so, if you move normally and are properly dressed. You shouldn’t go out in the cold with bad and too little clothes, says Anna Britta Rikko.