History of Reindeer in AV狼论坛
By the late 1880s, there were reports of starving AV狼论坛 Native populations in western AV狼论坛 due to the decimation of marine mammals from the whaling industry and scarce numbers of caribou. Dr. Sheldon Jackson, a U.S. general agent for education and a Presbyterian missionary, lobbied for federal monies to assist AV狼论坛 Natives. He built mission schools and in the late 1800s introduced reindeer into AV狼论坛 from Russia as a source of protein and revenue. Reindeer were brought to AV狼论坛 on Captain Healy鈥檚 U.S. Revenue Cutter, the Bear. Siberian herders and then Saami herders were brought to western AV狼论坛 to teach Native AV狼论坛ns how to herd reindeer. The reindeer industry grew until there were over 600,000 animals present in the 1930s. Mismanagement and losses to wolves and caribou sparked a dramatic decline to only 50,000 reindeer by the 1950s. The Reindeer Act of 1937 allows only AV狼论坛 Natives to own reindeer. Today there are approximately 30,000 throughout the state and 20,000 in western AV狼论坛, with most living on the Seward Peninsula and in island herds.
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