PLAN FOR THE ERADICATION OF THE WILD REINDEER POPULATION IN NORDFJELLA ZONE 1

Transcription

1 PLAN FOR THE ERADICATION OF THE WILD REINDEER POPULATION IN NORDFJELLA ZONE 1 Chronic wasting disease has been found among wild reindeer in the Nordfjella wild reindeer area, and it has been decided to eradicate the wild reindeer in order to prevent the spread of infection to other wild reindeer areas and other cervids.

2 Executive institutions: The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and The Norwegian Environment Agency Publisher: The Norwegian Food Safety Authority Date Number of pages 36 Front page photograph: Wild reindeer herd in Nordfjella. Helge Torsgard Reference number Norwegian Food Safety Authority 2017/68547 M no. Norwegian Environment Agency M Referred to as: Norwegian Food Safety Authority and Norwegian Environment Agency Plan for the eradication of the wild reindeer population in zone 1. Contact information Norwegian Food Safety Authority, Head Office Joint Post Reception, PO Box Brumunddal Norwegian Environment Agency PO Box 5672 Sluppen 7485 Trondheim Disclaimer: This is an unofficial translation, and should be treated as such.

3 Contents 1 Summary Introduction Method Evaluations and success factors...9 Evaluations...9 Conditions and success factors Ordinary hunting Zone regulations and significance for cervid hunters Meat and infection reduction measures Collection and testing of killed cervids Practical structure for wild reindeer hunting in Nordfjella Helicopter in Nordfjella Uncertainty Government culling Period of government culling Use of motorised transport Description of the government culling team Eradication of wild reindeer Handling, freight and testing of killed wild reindeer Risk of spread of infection and HSE Uncertainty Rounding up and slaughter Rounding up compound Implementation and personnel stunning and slaughter Taking samples Timing of rounding up Uncertainty Salt licks Salt licks as a source of infection Salt licks in Nordfjella Screening of salt locations Description, location Supervision and measures... 24

4 Uncertainty Fallowing and re-establishment Duration of the fallow period Measures aimed at grazing animals in the area Other measures to prevent the spread of infection Measures aimed at cervids in border zones Area management during the fallow period Fences and GPS marking Measures and testing in source populations Re-establishment Uncertainty Timeline for removal and re-establishment Sample material and research Need for more knowledge Collection of sample material for testing and research Proposal for a national CWD sample bank Communication measures Organisation of the culling Finance... 36

5 1 Summary Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is an infectious prion disease that affects cervids. The disease is fatal and will not disappear of its own accord. In Europe, ordinary CWD is only found in wild reindeer in the Nordfjella wild reindeer area. The decision has therefore been taken to eradicate the entire population as one step in the attempt to eradicate the disease. This can save many animals from the suffering the disease causes and prevent the further spread of infection. The Nordfjella wild reindeer area is divided into two zones and it is the approximately 2,000 animals in the northern zone (zone 1) that are to be culled. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency were commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food to create a plan for the removal of the wild reindeer population in zone 1. The content of the plan is based on scientific knowledge and experience. The involvement of landowners, pasture users and affected municipalities has been assured through the creation of a number of expert groups and dialogue with resource persons. Most of the culling will occur through ordinary wild reindeer hunting, supplemented with government culling and rounding up into compounds for slaughter. The Wild Reindeer Committee (landowners) the Wild Reindeer Board (state appointed) have established the basis for increased culling through hunting by increasing hunting quotas and extending the hunting season. Further facilitation is followed up in this plan, including by offering helicopter transport of carcasses out of the mountain area. The target is to remove 1,000 animals through ordinary hunting. The government culling team will primarily perform its activities after the ordinary hunting season, and it is anticipated that culling will be most effective in winter when there are good snow scooter conditions. Wild reindeer will also be rounded up in compounds for slaughter. This measure will be closely monitored to ensure that the necessary attention is given to animal welfare. Measures for progress, sample taking, meat and waste handling and infection prevention are described in the plan. According to the plan, complete depopulation of the wild reindeer in Nordfjella zone 1 shall be completed by 1 May The probability of succeeding in depopulation before this deadline is partly dependent on good weather and driving conditions. All animals that are killed will be tested for CWD. Various samples will also be taken for information gathering and research purposes. Once all the wild reindeer have been eradicated, the area is to be without reindeer for at least five years. As new methods are developed for testing whether there is CWD in the environment, it may become necessary to extend the fallow period. Once the fallow period is over, the wild reindeer population shall be re-established. It is important to re-establish the area with reindeer that are free of CWD and that are preferably of the same origin as the present day animals in Nordfjella zone 1. Animals will therefore be herded across from Nordfjella zone 2, assuming that the population is declared free of CWD. Other measures will also be initiated. Salt licks, which are potentially a major source of infection, will be fenced in. Fences will be erected to separate semi-domesticated

6 reindeer and wild reindeer along highway 52 and on selected stretches between Nordfjella zone 1 and zone 2. A good flow of information will be important throughout the measures phase. Various communication measures will be performed so as to ensure a good flow of information to stakeholders and affected groups. These include hunters, the local population, the general public, hikers and journalists. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has demonstrated in its letter of 20 April 2017 to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food that depopulation of wild reindeer in Nordfjella zone 1, pursuant to the Food Act and provisions given pursuant to the Food Act, is necessary and that it shall occur according to this plan. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has also proposed an addition to the zone regulations that state that wild reindeer in Nordfjella zone 1 shall be eradicated by means of ordinary hunting, government culling and rounding up followed by slaughter, and that the Norwegian Environment Agency can assist in the depopulation at the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. There will be ongoing evaluations of whether relevant new knowledge and experience indicate changes in the measures or the progress of the plan. Those affected and local stakeholders will be involved in this. 2 Introduction Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a prion disease that affects cervids. The disease is classified as a B disease according to the Food Act. These are serious, infectious diseases for which systematic measures are required to control or eradicate the disease. CWD is always fatal for the animals that are infected. The animals become infected by ingesting prions through the mouth or nose. The incubation period is very long, often many years, and the animals are apparently healthy for much of this period. However for most of this time they are excreting prions in faeces, saliva, urine and nasal secretions. Prions retain the power to infect even after long periods in the open. The disease will not disappear of its own accord and comprehensive measures are needed to eradicate it. It is recommended that people are not exposed to prions. It has not been demonstrated by either science or experience that CWD can be transferred to people. For more information about the disease, refer to the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) report on CWD. In Norway, the disease has been confirmed in three wild reindeer in the Nordfjella wild reindeer area and two moose in the municipality of Selbu. As yet the disease has not been found outside these areas. In 2016, approximately 10,000 samples were taken from cervids in Norway and it is planned to take samples from approximately 20,000 cervids in The disease has previously been found in North America, as well as in South Korea after the import of live animals from North America. The disease strain that has been found in wild reindeer in Nordfjella is, as far as we can establish today, identical to the infectious strain found in cervids in North America. In the two moose in Selbu, the prion strain is of a type that has not been previously described. This plan does not include the Selbu area. The Nordfjella wild reindeer area is divided into a northern zone (zone 1) and a southern zone (zone 2), which lie north and south respectively of highway 50; see Figure 2.1. Zone 1 includes the municipalities of Aurland, Lærdal, Hemsedal, Hol, Ål and Ulvik. The Nordfjella wild reindeer area has a winter population of approximately 2,400 animals. Approximately 2,000 of these are found in zone 1

7 and it is only in this zone that CWD has been confirmed. Norge digitalt/norwegian Environment Agency Figure 2.1. The figure shows the Nordfjella wild reindeer area marked with a red border. The wild reindeer area includes parts of six different municipalities. County road 50 between Hol and Aurland divides the area into a northern (zone 1) and southern (zone 2) part. VKM presented phase II of the CWD report in March This recommends removing the entire wild reindeer population from Nordfjella zone 1. The report also recommended other measures, such as removing salt licks for wild cervids and grazing animals, clearing the areas around salt licks and reducing cervid populations in areas in which CWD has been found. After consultation with the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, the Norwegian Environment Agency and the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), the Norwegian Food Safety Authority concluded in a letter of 20 April 2017 to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food that it is important to implement the measures against CWD proposed by VKM in the very near future, including removing the entire wild reindeer population from Nordfjella zone 1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food gave its decision on the Norwegian Food Safety Authority's recommendation in a letter of 8 May 2017, and simultaneously asked the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency to create a concrete plan for the removal of the wild reindeer population from Nordfjella zone 1. The plan was to describe culling of the population by 1 May 2018 and to be so organised that the fallow period was as short as possible and that animal welfare was safeguarded. Furthermore, measures for progress, sample taking, meat and waste handling and infection prevention were to be described. It should also describe how the wild reindeer population should be built up again after a fallow period. Landowners, grazing users and affected municipalities were to be fully involved. Read the order here.

8 Based on the work of the plan, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority has also proposed an addition to the zone regulations to state that wild reindeer in Nordfjella zone 1 shall be eradicated by means of ordinary hunting, government culling and rounding up followed by slaughter. In this way, the zone regulations will include the decision on slaughter. At the same time it is made clear in the proposed addition that the Norwegian Environment Agency will assist in the depopulation at the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. This is relevant for government culling and rounding up measures. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority will propose a provision for fallowing the area when the culling of wild reindeer is reaching its conclusion. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority s tasks include promoting good animal health and animal welfare and ensuring safe food. The authority is responsible for contingency planning and risk management and combating animal diseases, including in wild animals. The Norwegian Environment Agency works for a clean and rich environment and its most important functions are to obtain and communicate environmental information, to exercise and effect administrative authority, to control and guide at regional and municipal level and to give expert advice and participate in international environmental work. 3 Method The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency used scientific knowledge and experience to create the plan. The involvement of landowners, pasture users, affected municipalities and others has been assured through the creation of a number of expert groups and dialogue with resource persons. Knowledge about CWD and the management of cervids in the light of the disease has been an important basis for the formulation of the plan. VKM s two CWD reports have been very important for the work. This plan has been created in a short space of time and discusses a number of topics that will require further consideration and assessment. Most of the topics have however been included, so as to give a total picture. Great emphasis has been placed on ensuring that this is a concrete plan, but not all details are discussed here. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency have created many fast working expert groups which have considered a number of topics that are relevant to the plan. The following group work has been performed: Hunters group: Illustrated various measures for making hunting in and around the Nordfjella wild reindeer area more effective, implementation of sample taking and assessment of effective methods for reducing potential infection from slaughter waste. Government culling team group: Evaluated the practical implementation of government culling of wild reindeer in zone 1. Rounding up group: Evaluated welfare aspects of rounding up into compounds, slaughter and removal of all or part of the wild reindeer population for slaughter. Slaughter group: Described the implementation of various processes in connection with the culling of wild reindeer in zone 1, so that this can be done responsibly with regard to infection risk, including handling slaughter waste. Salt lick group: Evaluated the practical implementation of measures to secure salt licks and how the areas around salt licks can be secured or cleared.

9 Fallowing group: Presented a plan for how the wild reindeer area in Nordfjella zone 1 can be left fallow and pointed out topics that must be thoroughly investigated before re-establishment. Re-establishment group: Described relevant areas for collecting new animals to restock after the fallow period, as well as essential measures that must be implemented before, during and after restocking. Sample taking group: Described what samples must be secured when culling the wild reindeer population and that are relevant for repopulating, as well as evaluating possible storage of sample material. Communication group: Prepared a communication plan for culling in Nordfjella and for CWD in general and illustrated important information measures and target groups. The groups have a broad-based composition including representatives from research, administration, business, professional and industrial bodies and the public and private sectors, both locally and nationally. The composition of the first seven groups and their mandates can be found here.. Representatives from the groups and various other stakeholders have also provided relevant input that is not directly connected with the group work. The reports of the group work, together with the VKM reports and other input, have been an important basis for the preparation of the plan. There have however been other evaluations and considerations that have meant that the plan deviates from the group work in certain areas. 4 Evaluations and success factors The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency have assessed many different aspects in the preparation of this plan and decisions have been taken after a complete evaluation. Implementation of the plan is dependent on various critical success factors. The plan can be adjusted and adapted if relevant new knowledge or experience so indicates. Those affected and local stakeholders will be involved in this. Evaluations Since CWD was discovered in Norway, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency have been working to obtain more information about the situation and have initiated measures to prevent the spread of infection. The aim is to limit and if possible eradicate CWD in Norway. Based on what we know about the disease and the situation in the country, we believe there is a reasonable possibility of eradicating CWD in wild reindeer. To realise this, it is vital that we get moving quickly on work to counter the disease and implement the necessary measures. The nature of the disease indicates that the incidence of CWD in the wild reindeer population will increase and the disease will spread to other cervids - both wild and semidomesticated - and beyond Norway s borders. A great responsibility therefore rests with the authorities, which must act before the disease becomes established. The expert reports from VKM make it clear that just removing part of the reindeer population of Nordfjella zone

10 1 is not enough. If the disease is to be eradicated, the entire wild reindeer population must be eradicated, even though we know that the great majority of the animals are not infected. We have therefore concluded that all the wild reindeer in Nordfjella zone 1 must be eradicated and that this must be done quickly. The decision is based on the best available knowledge. We will continue to increase the knowledge base, including through the national information gathering programme for CWD, and support the development of new methods that are relevant to the work of combating CWD. Further research is important. However we cannot wait for the results of the information gathering before culling the wild reindeer population in zone 1, because there is a risk of the disease spreading in the meantime and we could lose the chance to eradicate it. In addition to information gathering, we have been continuously working on preventive measures and have determined two regulations to limit infection. As regards the actual culling of the Nordfjella population, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency have assessed three different methods: ordinary hunting, government culling and rounding up and slaughtering. Balancing the three different methods has been challenging and there are clearly opposing interests among those who will be affected. The main focus is to eradicate CWD in wild reindeer, and we believe that this legitimises the implementation of all three methods. The implementation will involve some sacrifices by various stakeholders, since the three culling methods have different levels of acceptance among different groups. It is a basic principle that animal welfare will be considered and safeguarded. Rounding up, ordinary hunting and government culling all have animal welfare issues, but the greatest uncertainty concerns rounding up. If CWD should spread, however, this would lead to a major animal welfare problem and the number of cervids exposed to long-term suffering in the future would be high. If we succeed in eradicating the disease, many animals will be saved from extreme suffering. Our assessment therefore is that the culling of the entire wild reindeer population in Nordfjella zone 1 is defensible in this case. If we find the classic CWD strain in other parts of the country or in other species in Nordfjella, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency will consider what measures will be necessary on the basis of the concrete findings. At the same time we must assess whether, and if so how, the plan must be adapted to the new situation. We will also have an adaptive approach to the plan beyond this, and thus adapt the implementation as we see how the different culling methods work in practice. For example, the combination of the three methods will be determined in more detail during the course of implementation, with the focus on effectiveness, legitimacy, infection considerations and animal welfare. Taking into account the use of wild reindeer as a food resource and also local interests, the starting point has been to utilise the wild reindeer that are culled during this work. The meat from ordinary hunting will be used as food as usual, provided the animals test negative for CWD. Various solutions have also been considered for using the meat from animals killed in government culling and rounding up for human consumption. However a number of people have pointed out the challenges relating to protection from infection, traceability, meat quality and sale. We have also received signals that wild reindeer meat could be difficult to sell because of the special circumstances. Meat that is to be sold as food for people presents logistical issues relating to quick and correct handling in the field, transport to the slaughterhouse and the slaughtering process itself.

11 These issues would make culling less effective and reduce the chances of success. Slaughter and the butchery of carcasses could also represent a greater risk of spreading the disease. Other circumstances such as low temperature and poor animal condition could make it less appropriate to keep the slaughtered animals as food. It is also important for research work and ongoing management that animals in which CWD is confirmed are brought in as intact as possible for diagnosis and for taking samples. Against this background it has therefore been decided that meat from wild reindeer killed by the government culling team and meat from animals that are killed after rounding up will not normally be used for human consumption. The intention of the plan is that implementation shall minimise the risk of spreading CWD. There are therefore various requirements for the handling of animals and equipment and to ensure that slaughter waste is handled without risk of infection. All wild reindeer must be tested for CWD and they must be traceable until the test results are available. Conditions and success factors Weather and driving conditions are a vital success factor for the implementation of the plan. Given good conditions, circumstances will favour implementation as described. On the other hand, bad weather conditions and poor snow conditions in winter would have an impact on both the possibility of implementing the measures and the effectiveness of the cull. Poor weather and driving conditions could also mean that the removal of the wild reindeer population from Nordfjella zone 1 would be completed later than 1 May Implementation of the plan as described requires that we receive the permits that are demanded by different regulations. However this is not expected to present a serious problem. Another prerequisite for the implementation is that health and safety is safeguarded for all those involved in the work. Unforeseen and unfortunate incidents could delay the cull. The wild reindeer cull and the implementation of other measures that are described in this plan presuppose that the necessary funding is allocated for the purpose; see section 13. The most important success factor for achieving the goal of eradicating CWD in Norway is that the disease is not transmitted to other cervid populations before the cull is completed. 5 Ordinary hunting Successful collaboration with local wild reindeer management is important for the implementation of the cull. It is also important to have an effective support apparatus in place for the hunters when the autumn hunt begins. This is so as to achieve the largest possible cull of wild reindeer and to ensure that hunting is done in a way that does not risk the spread of infection. Zone regulations and significance for cervid hunters

12 The zone regulations for CWD were determined on 12 June The purpose of the regulations is to prevent the spread of the disease. The regulations therefore establish a zone around Nordfjella out of which material that carries an infection risk must not be transported. For hunters in the Nordfjella zone, the regulations prohibit taking carcasses, slaughter waste or equipment out of the zone. The Nordfjella zone is defined as the municipalities of Ulvik, Lærdal, Aurland and Hemsedal, as well as those parts of the municipalities of Eidfjord, Hol and Ål that lie north of highway 7. Within the Nordfjella zone, all cervids over one year old that are killed will be tested for CWD, as well as all wild reindeer calves. Hunters who wish to take out whole moose, red deer and roe deer calf carcasses will have the opportunity to have the animals tested for CWD. If there is a negative test result (no disease) the carcasses may be taken out of the zone. Boned-out meat may also be taken out of the zone before the results of the CWD test are known. When animals are eviscerated in the field, the viscera must be covered and the position recorded. Clothing and equipment used during hunting must be cleaned, washed and if necessary disinfected. Hunters must rinse their shoes and equipment in the field before getting back into the car. For hunters who have not come into contact with cervids within the zone, normal washing of clothes and rinsing of shoes will be sufficient. For hunters who have shot and come into contact with cervids in the field, further measures will be necessary before the test results are available or if CWD is confirmed in the animal. Hunting equipment (knives etc.) must be disinfected with a suitable disinfectant solution (1:1 mix of chlorine and water at 20 degrees C for one hour) or destroyed. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority will make facilities for washing and disinfecting equipment available at the locations where samples are taken. Hunters can also have chlorine and a container for disinfecting equipment in the car. If the test results are negative, disinfection is not required. More details appear in the zone regulations. Meat and infection reduction measures Within the Nordfjella zone, cf. the zone regulations, hunters must ensure that remains of slaughter (bones, paunch, intestines, offal and feet) of moose, roe deer, wild reindeer and red deer are made inaccessible to cervids until there is a diagnosis. The requirement in the regulations is to cover them, but the best alternative is to gather up slaughter remains in biologically degradable packaging. For wild reindeer the skin can be placed on top. All hunters must record the coordinates of places where slaughter remains are left, cf. the zone regulations. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority locally, in collaboration with local authorities and local wild reindeer management, will order and distribute degradable bio-sacks to all those who hunt in the Nordfjella zone. The municipality has a general responsibility for waste management and all municipalities around Nordfjella should set up dedicated containers or freezers for slaughter waste from cervids. These can be located at the local authority recycling stations or other suitable places. The purpose is to make slaughter waste inaccessible to other animals and thereby limit the spread of infection. Hunters who do not leave slaughter waste in bio sacks that are covered must use this service. This could be especially relevant for hunters who kill animals near roads. Such a service can also be used by those who bone out the meat so that they can take it out of the zone before the test results are available. When negative test results

13 exist for all the animals, the container can be emptied. This must be done according to the by-product regulations, i.e. the waste must be collected by Norsk Protein. If CWD is confirmed in one or more animals in the municipality, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority will make contact to ensure the correct handling of all the waste in the container. Animals may also be taken away from the hunting site without being skinned, which may be relevant if the animal is to be sold for processing within the zone. In such cases the control organs must accompany the animal, cf. the animal hygiene regulations. Collection and testing of killed cervids Moose, roe deer, wild reindeer and red deer killed during hunting in and around the Nordfjella wild reindeer area must be tested for CWD under the national information gathering programme of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency. The areas included in the information gathering are listed on the Norwegian Environment Agency s CWD information gathering page. In these areas hunters are required to test killed cervids that are one year or older, cf. decision from the Norwegian Environment Agency 9 May In Nordfjella wild reindeer area, wild reindeer calves must also be tested. With good support it is expected that more than 3,500 cervids will be tested in the Nordfjella region in autumn The Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) organises the collection and sample taking in collaboration with local wildlife management and the Norwegian Veterinary Institute. In some areas, hunters must take samples themselves and send them to the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, in other areas whole heads of killed cervids are delivered for sample taking. Up to date details of what is to be collected in the different areas and how are available at all times at nina.no/cwd. Every animal will have a unique ID number (tag number) that is linked to the hunter, so that both animal and hunter can be traced. Hunters must register information about themselves and animals they have killed at settogskutt.no, including the tag number and the coordinates of the location where the animal was shot. Hunters can see the results of CWD tests after a few days at hjorteviltregisteret.no. Information on this database is stored and owned by the Norwegian Environment Agency. Animals with confirmed CWD must be handled according to special rules. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is responsible for this and will contact hunters to inform them about the correct handling of the animal and equipment. The animal remains will be disposed of by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority or its agreement partner. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency will ensure that the slaughter remains are collected if these are still out at the hunting site. The hunter should accompany them to point out the spot, since it can be difficult to find the exact location from coordinates and a description. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority will ensure correct handling and transport to the Norwegian Veterinary Institute.

14 Practical structure for wild reindeer hunting in Nordfjella In order to reduce the threat of infection and simplify the later culling of all wild reindeer in the area, the local wild reindeer administration has set high hunting quotas in Nordfjella zone 1. The total quota is 3,500 animals, of which 1,750 are free options and 1,750 must be calves. This means that the quotas will not limit culling in the form of normal hunting. The target is for at least 1,000 wild reindeer to be killed. There are special hunting licences (control licences) for the area giving every hunter the opportunity to kill one animal of any type and one calf. This means that many hunting permits can be used without having too many hunters in the same area. To make maximum use of the high hunting quota, the hunting season for wild reindeer in Nordfjella zone 1 has been extended after dispensation from the Norwegian Environment Agency on 12 May 2017, and after a decision from Nordfjella and Fjellheimen wild reindeer panel (villreinnemnd), which is a public administration body. The hunting season is from 10 August until 31 October A coordinating supervisory centre will be set up in Nordfjella, staffed by 3-4 persons. This will be set up by the Norwegian Environment Agency s organisation in the field, the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate (SNO), but in practice it will be operated by Nordfjella wild reindeer committee (villreinutvalg), which is a private landowners organisation. About the supervisory centre: Open 10 August to 31 October Communicates animal positions to hunters and administration Dedicated telephone number will be set up Nordfjella wild reindeer supervision s Facebook page will be used for communication Organises outward transport by helicopter of meat and any other material relating to CWD Informs hunters about joint hunting agreements, contacts rights holders, monitors and can distribute road barrier keys etc. Organises and controls the supervisory staff Gives information about CWD, with contact details for further information Distributes equipment if necessary (packaging, health and safety equipment) There will be supervisory staff from the wild reindeer committee and SNO in the mountains for most of the hunting season. The police will also be involved, but the level of this commitment is not yet known. In Nordfjella hunters must deliver the heads of killed wild reindeer, including calves, to designated collection points; see Hired personnel will take the necessary samples so that the animals are tested for CWT. NINA is organising five sample taking centres with the necessary infrastructure for taking samples and storing heads. All hunters are also being encouraged to deliver faeces samples from animals the have killed, together with the head. This can help to develop methods for revealing CWD without first killing the animal and for being able to detect infection in the environment. Implementation of ordinary hunting for wild reindeer will be in accordance with the normal provisions for hunting, cf. regulations on the exercise of hunting and trapping and regulations on the management of cervids, as well as any dispensations pursuant to these.

15 Helicopter in Nordfjella In order to be able to transport killed cervids out of areas with poor accessibility, it is planned to offer helicopter transport. This can increase the hunters motivation and efforts. As a general rule, killed animals must be gathered together and packed in so-called big bags before collection. Hunters must pack their own carcasses and mark them so that others can collect the meat at the unloading places. Big bags will be placed in predetermined locations where hunters receive information that collection is possible. These locations are chosen by the operational leader in consultation with the supervision leader. The helicopter must be able to land at these locations so that the loader can judge whether the load is properly secured. The helicopter then flies with the load suspended to the agreed unloading location. For safety reasons the helicopter will not be allowed to carry passengers such as hunters on such operations. According to the Motorised Transport Act all motorised transport in wilderness areas is prohibited unless otherwise stated in the act or in decisions pursuant to the act. The municipality is the motorised transport authority and must give a permit for helicopter landings and take-offs to carry out meat for hunters. The Norwegian Environment Agency will be responsible for such applications. Landing also requires the landowner s permission. The wild reindeer committee has written to all owners of land in the Nordfjella wild reindeer area asking those who do not accept helicopter landings on their land in connection with the outward transport of reindeer meat during the hunting season to notify the wild reindeer committee of this by 15 June. Landing in the Fødalen conservation area may be relevant. The Norwegian Environment Agency will therefore apply to the Office of the County Governor of Buskerud for permission for this purpose. The local supervisory body will be tasked with collecting slaughter waste from wild reindeer with confirmed CWD. The helicopter may be used for this. Landing and take-off for the purpose of collecting positive slaughter waste may be done pursuant to the Supervision of Nature Act section 3, cf. the Motorised Transport Act section 4. The rules for the various conservation areas in Nordfjella permit motorised transport for supervisory activities. Uncertainty The motivation of hunters is an important success factor. Good information, the use of joint hunting agreements and good hunting conditions are also important for being able to cull many wild reindeer. The weather is important for how successful hunting is. This can affect both the hunters presence in the mountains and the success of hunting, as can whether it is possible to have the carcass carried out by helicopter. It is vital that all hunters register themselves and their killed animals at so as to ensure traceability.

16 6 Government culling Government culling will help to ensure the culling of wild reindeer in zone 1, together with normal hunting and rounding up. The measure shall be performed in an effective way without risk of infection. Period of government culling SNO is responsible for leading the implementation of government culling. In principle the assignment has already started with previously performed culling and it will last until 1 May 2018 or until all wild reindeer have been eradicated from Nordfjella zone 1. The main activity of the government culling team will begin after the hunting season, i.e. 1 November, but it may begin earlier. Rutting occurs in September and October and it may be easier to hunt wild reindeer then. It is important to exploit this period for the most effective culling. If there are areas with no ordinary hunting, the government culling personnel can begin their activities during this period. This will be especially important if the total cull from hunting proves to be poor. Any start-up earlier than 1 November shall not impact on the total effectiveness of the cull. Any commencement of government culling within the predetermined hunting season is decided by the operational leader in consultation with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency and after dialogue with the resource group; see section 13 on organisation. Government culling and rounding up attempts may occur in parallel. Here too dialogue between the different operations is important so that they do not hinder each other. The leader of the government culling team considers and decides this in consultation with the operational leader and steering group. Use of motorised transport The use of motorised transport is vital for successful culling. The helicopter can be used to carry the culling team in and out of the mountains and to carry wild reindeer carcasses out of the area. In winter snow scooters will be used as needed for effective transport, to get into position for culling wild reindeer and for taking out carcasses. Wild reindeer may be shot from a helicopter in the case of individual animals or very small groups, if the situation indicates that this is appropriate. This may be appropriate, for example, for the last reindeer to be killed in zone 1. If needed the leader of the government culling team can make agreements with local flying clubs, which can perform reconnaissance after periods of bad weather. This will make the work more effective, since the culling teams can go directly to areas where there are wild reindeer. Necessary motorised transport for supervision activities is permitted under the Motorised Transport Act section 4 and the Supervision of Nature Act section 3. Motorised transport for government culling is therefore covered by SNO s authority. This includes helicopter landings. The rules for the various conservation areas in Nordfjella permit motorised transport for supervisory activities.

17 A prohibition should be established against low flying, at altitudes that could disturb the reindeer, over zone 1 during periods when government culling or rounding up may be going on, i.e. from November to the end of April. Flying in connection with the removal work must be exempted from this prohibition. The Norwegian Environment Agency is contacting the Civil Aviation Authority about this. The Norwegian Environment Agency is organising joint tendering and hire of helicopters that can be used by the government culling team and for transport of meat in connection with ordinary hunting. Description of the government culling team The government culling team is led by SNO. The culling team consists, at any given time, of 10 persons. Each team is led by a culling leader. The leader of the government culling team, including the operational leader, cf. the section on organisation, will have the necessary authorisation to take decisions on all practical questions regarding culling in the mountains. In total about 30 persons will be used in the culling team so that they can work in shifts. The shift pattern may be altered during periods of bad weather or other special circumstances. The government culling team will consist of employees of the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate together with hired personnel with the necessary expertise, so as to achieve the required numbers. SNO will arrange all such personnel agreements. The government culling team will have a base where the whole team lives during their work periods, so as to ensure synchronisation, the exchange of experience and efficiency. The base will be located in Hemsedalsfjellet beside highway 52, after SNO has entered into a final agreement. Removal of wild reindeer All wild reindeer that are killed by the government culling team shall be shot with weapons that are approved for big game hunting, with attached silencers. Hand held binoculars shall have range finders. This will lead to increased precision, better animal welfare and more efficient hunting. All members of the government culling team shall undergo extra training and courses, organised by SNO. So that the animals will display good impact marks after being hit, ammunition that expands relatively easily on hitting a wild reindeer will be used. This is important so that the marksman can be sure that the animal has been hit and concentrate on new target opportunities. It is important to try to obtain video or photographic material of the live animal before shooting, if the situation permits. This applies when animals are culled that might display CWD symptoms.

18 Because of the limited probability of snow and the challenging weather conditions, it may be difficult to cull many reindeer in the pre-christmas period. The period after New Year is approximately 120 days and local knowledge and experience indicate that about of these can be used for effective hunting, because of the weather. Table 6.1 The table shows how many wild reindeer must be culled each day, given a population of 1,500 or 2,000 reindeer and weather conditions that indicate 30 or 40 days of effective hunting. Population size Number of hunting days Number of culling personnel Animals per day 1, , , , Animals per day per culling person Much of the equipment to be used must be bought in especially for the purpose. SNO ensures that sufficient equipment is acquired before the government culling assignment begins. Handling, freight and testing of killed wild reindeer Outward transport of reindeer carcasses will be by helicopter or snow scooter, depending on weather and driving conditions. The animals will be removed whole. The carcasses are kept in containers or in another suitable way until negative test results are obtained. Storage and destruction are handled by the government culling team in collaboration with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. It is not planned to keep meat for consumption, cf. section 4. This means that efficiency will be considerably increased. Brain and lymph samples will be taken from all the wild reindeer carcasses. The lower jaw or front teeth will also be taken from all reindeer that are culled. The samples are taken by the culling team after the animals have been transported out of the mountains. All carcasses and samples shall always be labelled and kept until test results are available. If an animal tests positive for CWR, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority is responsible for correct handling and will ensure that the animal is sent to the Norwegian Veterinary Institute. Risk of spread of infection and HSE In order to minimise the infection risk, culled wild reindeer that show signs of CWR are transported out of the area according to the current instructions from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency, cf. attachment to the SNO s

19 instructions for following up CWD. Any reindeer that has confirmed CWD will be handled by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority or its agreement partner and transported to the Norwegian Veterinary Institute. It is important to minimise the risk of infecting other areas. Equipment that is used during culling shall therefore remain within the infected zone until the culling assignment is over. It shall be treated according to the principle of infected zone and infection free zone. Equipment that is to be used outside the zone after the assignment has finished shall be cleaned and if possible disinfected, or destroyed. For weapons, normal polishing and cleaning is considered satisfactory if they must be taken out of the zone. The culling team must always act in accordance with applicable HSE (health and safety) instructions. Uncertainty The number of days with hunting weather will vary and represents a great uncertainty factor. Weather conditions, driving conditions and access to helicopters and personnel will decide whether it is possible in practice to complete the removal of the population by 1 May Based on an assessment of weather conditions and daylight hours, it is possible that the culling team must also use the period after April in order to meet the target. 7 Rounding up and slaughter We will facilitate rounding up and killing wild reindeer in compounds, a method which could be very effective in removing a large proportion of the population. Never before has such a large and timid wild reindeer herd as that in zone 1 been rounded up. This measure will be closely monitored to ensure that the necessary attention is given to animal welfare. Rounding up compound A fenced compound should have 3-4 enclosures within the guide wall and grazing pasture; see Figure 7.1 The first enclosure, the grazing pasture, must be able to take at least 1,000 animals. There must be sufficient water or clean snow as a water source as well as sufficient grazing or feed for the period the reindeer will be in the grazing pasture. The following enclosures must become smaller and smaller. Correct design of the fences is very important for reducing the risk of injury. We make use of the principle that a herd of reindeer in a tight position will rotate anti clockwise. Within each of the enclosures, animals can be cut out from the outermost part so as to arrive at suitable sized groups for the next enclosure until finally in the smallest filter individual animals can be taken out for slaughter. If further waiting areas are required, the posts for these must also be secured in the ground.

20 Figure 7.1. Schematic presentation of a possible rounding up compound for wild reindeer. Figure text translated: 1. Length of the arms is determined by the terrain 2. Possibility of closing 3. Double fence on the working side, if needed 4. Grazing pasture km 147 netting 5. Smaller enclosure - Netting + fabric/sacking 6. Smaller enclosure Fences + wire mesh fabric 7. Filter Fences + wire mesh fabric 8. Exit to slaughter 9. Length of the arms is determined by the terrain 10. Possibility of closing 11. Fabric 12. Fences 13. Wire mesh fabric netting The posts for the various enclosures must be driven into the ground before the ground

21 becomes frozen. The rest of the fence is set up on snow before the rounding up operation. As much of the fencing as possible must be screened with a mesh fabric so that the reindeer cannot see through into the different enclosures or to the outside. This in itself calms the herd and helps to prevent panic. Rounding up is primarily to be done on snow using snow scooters. With groups of females this should preferably not be done until far into gestation. A helicopter will probably be needed as support and also for animals that wander out of the zone. Snow and wind will be a challenge and good capacity for snow ploughing roads and the fenced compound will be needed. The compound should be built so that snow can be mechanically cleared inside. The barrier fence along highway 52 must be in place before reindeer are herded into Kjøledalen, so as to avoid a panicked herd crossing out of the zone and into an area with semi-domesticated reindeer. Kjøledalen in the municipality of Lærdal has been provisionally identified as a possible location for a rounding up compound, but a further evaluation will be made of this. The place where the compound is set up should as far as possible be in a naturally limited area with good grazing (a collection area) where the whole herd can be collected and minded before the actual rounding up into the compound starts. Application will be made to the local authority for the necessary permits according to the Planning and Building Act. If it should become necessary to erect the fences in a conservation area, permission will be required under the conservation regulations. An agreement must be made with the road owner for snow ploughing and with the landowner for erecting the fences. Necessary permits to use motorised transport in connection with rounding up reindeer are covered by the Supervision of Nature Act section 3, cf. the Motorised Transport Act section 4. Implementation and personnel The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is responsible for planning, procuring and setting up the rounding up compound. Dedicated project management will be established for this which will also assess which location is most suitable. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is responsible for establishing this group and will create a concrete plan for how rounding up and slaughtering is to be performed. SNO is responsible for performing the rounding up and will appoint people for this purpose in consultation with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority s task leader. Personnel with good experience of working with semi-domesticated reindeer must be used, as well as personnel with good knowledge of the mountain area and wild reindeer, so as to be able to move and handle the animals. The reindeer herding industry will help to find personnel with the right experience. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority provides personnel to slaughter the animals and process the carcasses. Once the reindeer are in the enclosure, four persons are needed for stunning and slaughter. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority supervises animal welfare. It is the operational leader who initiates rounding up in consultation with the task leader and after clearance from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency.

22 Stunning and slaughter Slaughter can occur after the animals are brought one by one out of a working enclosure corresponding to a filter that has room for reindeer at a time. A further possibility is to have waiting enclosures with room for 5-10 animals each from which those performing the slaughtering continuously fetch animals so as to avoid delays in the sequence of working operations. The animals are held manually and kept in place before being stunned with a bolt gun. Two persons are responsible for holding the animal in position while the third uses the bolt gun. If the impact is to the correct position on the forehead, it is sufficient to stab the animal for bleeding within 60 seconds. If other impact points must be used because of the antlers, the animal should be stabbed as soon as possible and preferably within 20 seconds. The accumulation of blood in the enclosure can be avoided with the aid of a conveyor and a gutter to a tank. We will look at the possibility of slaughter without bleeding, by means of impact to the spinal cord for example. It is not planned to keep meat for consumption, cf. section 4. This means that efficiency will be considerably increased. All carcasses and samples shall always be labelled and kept until test results are available. If an animal tests positive for CWR, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority will ensure correct handling and that the animal is sent to the Norwegian Veterinary Institute. Negative carcasses shall be destroyed by Norsk Protein. Taking samples Brain and lymph samples will be taken from all the animals. The lower jaw or front teeth will also be taken. All carcasses and samples shall always be labelled and kept until test results are available. If an animal tests positive for CWR, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority is responsible for correct handling and will ensure that the animal is sent to the Norwegian Veterinary Institute. Timing of rounding up If weather and driving conditions permit, rounding up can begin right after ordinary hunting. Because of pregnant animals, we do not wish to use this method for females until well into the spring. See the timeline in section 10. Uncertainty There is little experience of rounding up wild reindeer and it is uncertain how it will work. If it works well, the method is very effective in terms of removing animals. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority will supervise animal welfare and handling of infection risks on an ongoing basis. The method will be evaluated and if necessary adjusted during implementation and stopped if necessary. If this method is stopped, government culling will continue as the culling method. The size of the herds that are rounded up affects animal behaviour and it is uncertain what size will cause the least stress reaction. It is also uncertain whether it will be possible to split up large herds so as to round up smaller groups. Because all reindeer herds consist of more or less timid animals, with the tamest calming the wildest, there is a risk when dividing herds up in open country that the most timid animals will be left until last. The most timid animals are in

23 themselves useful to include in the rounding up operation, since they usually take the lead and speed up the rest of the herd. An attempt will be made to acclimatise the animals to the presence of motorised transport before rounding up begins. The animals reaction and behaviour will affect how the process goes. Good weather conditions are a decisive factor for implementation, as is the expertise of those rounding up the reindeer. 8 Salt licks According to the zone regulations for CWD determined by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food on 12 June 2017, salt licks within the Nordfjella zone are to be made inaccessible to cervids. The Nordfjella zone is defined as the municipalities of Ulvik, Lærdal, Aurland and Hemsedal, as well as those parts of the municipalities of Eidfjord, Hol and Ål that lie north of highway 7. Salt licks as a source of infection Salt licks and their immediate vicinity are considered to be one of the most important risk factors for the spread of CWD. These are places where animals gather and animals with CWD will leave infectious material on the salt lick and in the immediate area in the form of saliva, urine and faeces. Cervids will also eat from the ground around such a salt lick and this soil can contain infectious material. The transmission of infection is therefore extremely probable in such an area. The area around a salt lick that is trampled and where there is salt in the soil normally extends to a circle with a radius of 5-10 metres. Sheep that use the same salt licks as wild reindeer could spread the infection via soil, wool, urine or faeces, but the risk of this is considered to be relatively low. Salt licks in Nordfjella The sheep farming industry has a good overview of salt licks in open country and there are more than 550 salt licks for sheep within the Nordfjella zone that must be made inaccessible to cervids. About 70 of these have been assessed to be places with a particularly high risk of transmission of infection. These are salt licks that we know are in frequent use by wild reindeer and other cervids, places where the salt lick is on or drains into exposed soil or places that have a great deal of wear because of the numbers of animals using them. Most of these are in the border zones of the wild reindeer area in the municipalities of Lærdal and Aurland. Salt licks for other grazing animals, such as cattle and horses, are difficult to map out because these industries do not have the same overview. Preliminary information indicates that salt licks for horses and cattle are outside the areas used by wild reindeer and thus represent little risk of transmission of infection. These salt licks in open country will also be forbidden by the zone regulations but the Norwegian Food Safety Authority does not offer solutions for screening these off. Cattle s salt and mineral needs can be covered by bole soil. Screening of salt locations In order to prevent cervids from gaining access to salt licks, fences shall be erected around salt licks for sheep in open country in the Nordfjella zone. Sheep shall continue to gain access via a small opening in the fence.

24 70 salt licks have been assessed as having a particularly high risk of infection transmission and these will be completely fenced off, including for sheep. If there is a genuine need for a salt lick for sheep in the place in question, a new salt lick will be set up close by that is closed to cervids but which sheep can access. Stones and rock are surfaces where infectious material is more easily drained away in places where animals gather since the rain washes it away more effectively. New salt licks will therefore be set up on such well drained surfaces, preferably on stone and not earth. In the case of cattle and horses it is not possible to construct salt licks that only the farm animals can access. Because the infectious material survives for a long time the preliminary assessment is that the fences must stay in place for at least as long as the fallow period lasts. That is to say, a minimum of five years. Description, location The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has ordered metal fences with vertical bars that are 2 metres long and 1.84 metres high. On average eight such fences will be needed around every salt lick. Implementing this measure quickly requires that the fences are transported out to their locations by helicopter. This will start on 1 July and continue well into August. Two representatives from the municipality of Ål will take care of the logistics of putting these in place, by agreement with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. For positioning after 10 August it is important that these representatives are in good contact with the operational leader, cf. the section on organisation, before flying so that activities do not disturb hunting more than necessary. Assembling the fences on site is considered to be easy and the sheep farming industry has signalled that it will set up the fences. It is expected that the sheep farmers involved will receive funding in excess of the agricultural negotiations that can be used to cover their costs in putting up the fences. Where sheep are to be given access, three of the fences around each salt lick shall have an opening that is 45 cm wide and 80 cm high. To begin with the fences will be fixed in place with stones but they will get a more solid anchorage in the autumn, for example using rock bolts, so that they can stand out in the winter without being displaced or falling down. Outside the period when the salt licks are being used by sheep the openings will be closed off. When fences are transported out by helicopter they will be lowered with the aid of a long line. The Motorised Transport Act regulates landings and take-offs by helicopter, but unloading from a height with a line does not count as landing. We therefore assume that the Motorised Transport Act will not be applied for this activity. For fencing of active salt licks where the fence has an opening for small animals, the Motorised Transport Act allows for the necessary transport of persons and goods for agriculture, cf. section 4. The use of motor vehicles in open country for inward transport of persons for installation can be done pursuant to the Motorised Transport Act. Fencing of salt licks where all animals are to be excluded will not be directly linked to agricultural activities. The use of motor vehicles in open country to transport in persons for installation will therefore require the permission of the local authority. Those who will perform the transport can apply to use motor vehicles according to section 6 of the regulations on the use of motor vehicles in open country and on frozen waterways. Landowners have the right to refuse motorised transport on their land, even if the Motorised Transport

25 Act allows for driving without an application, so that the consent of landowners will be necessary when setting up fences both with and without openings for sheep. Representatives from the industry have informed us that it is not necessary to use vehicles to transport in personnel to set up fences. There are a number of conservation areas within the zone. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has sent applications to the relevant bodies to set up the fences. These have signalled that combating CWD is a special case and that there are probably grounds for dispensation and permission. It is not considered that this measure requires any applications under the Planning and Building Act, but the Norwegian Food Safety Authority will be in dialogue with the local authorities about this measure. Supervision and measures During the grazing season the users of grazing shall check the fences in their areas at least once a week. According to the regulation on the welfare of small farm animals, animals that are put out to graze in open country shall be checked on once a week in areas with no special risk and more frequently if greater risk is suspected. In addition to this, various groups that spend time inside the zone will be encouraged to check the fences. These will include supervisory personnel, hunters and hikers. If they see wild cervids inside the enclosures or that other animals are trapped or stuck or that the fence is not standing properly, they shall release the animal if possible and always telephone the Norwegian Food Safety Authority to notify. The same applies if they find unprotected salt licks. It is possible to remove soil from contaminated areas and then spray with 2% sodium hypochlorite and cover with gravel to a depth of cm. This measure can be evaluated at a later date when the infection situation in Nordfjella is better known. This measure may be relevant where fences cannot be erected for some reason or as an additional measure where the infection pressure is abnormally high. We will set up a group to evaluate inspection of the fences in winter, further securing of the fences and treatment of the salt licks during the fallow period and the significance this will have for the environment, revegetation, impacts on the terrain and the need for permit applications, the introduction of new filler material etc. Uncertainty Setting up fences that let sheep through but keep out cervids is new and there is therefore some uncertainty about how it will work. Sheep farmers wish to attempt such a solution rather than stopping the use of salt licks. The risk of an animal being shut in or stuck is considered to be low. Animal welfare will be safeguarded in that vertical bars make it difficult to climb and get stuck. Three openings for sheep in each enclosure will mean that sheep can get out even if another opening is closed by a crowd of other sheep trying to get in. It is also thought to be unlikely that calves of cervids will try to get through the opening if the mother does not go in. To see how well the fences work, wildlife cameras will be set up in at least 10 of these locations. If it is found that fences with openings do not exclude cervids sufficiently well or they prove to be unacceptable from an animal welfare point of view, the openings must be closed and other alternatives must be considered, such as offers of grants for more intensive inspection and

26 GPS trackers. 9 Fallowing and re-establishment Duration of the fallow period It is the extent and duration of infection in the environment that will determine the length of the fallow period. We do not precisely know the extent of infectious material in Nordfjella. Given today s knowledge we can assume that CWD is present in fewer than one per cent of the population and there is therefore reason to believe that the environment in general is not greatly affected. Isolation of known hot spots, such as the salt licks, is a decisive factor in how long the area shall be fallow. There is a need for an ongoing overview of the incidence of infectious material in the environment in Nordfjella zone 1 in order to determine how long a fallow period should be. New methods are under development and it is expected that they can be used within 2 to 5 years. Based on present day knowledge, the fallow period has been set as a minimum of five years and it will begin when the last reindeer can be assumed to have been eradicated from the area. Measures aimed at grazing animals in the area Direct transmission of the disease between grazing animals and cervids is extremely unlikely and the risk of farm animals from other areas transporting infectious material out of the zone is considered to be small. There is therefore no basis for placing restrictions on the use of grazing in Nordfjella. Passive transmission of infection from grazing animals cannot be excluded and increased testing of grazing animals from the area will be considered. The use of grazing shall not be increased until the fallow period is over and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority will not give further dispensations for grazing in Nordfjella for sheep that come from other counties. Any restrictions to prevent the spread of infection will be implemented through regulations from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Practical measures aimed at salt licks are discussed in section 8. Other measures to prevent the spread of infection In order to minimise the risk of infection, a number of circumstances are regulated by regulations from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, cf. the zone regulations and the CWD regulations. The provisions will be maintained at least until the entire wild reindeer population in Nordfjella has been eradicated and throughout the fallow period. Among other things, this applies to the prohibition on the transport of live and dead cervids and of plant material that is to be used as feed for cervids out of the area and to the prohibition on putting out feed for cervids. There are no restrictions directed at tourists and hikers. The risk of passive transmission of infection via tourists shoes or equipment is judged to be low. However information measures

27 are being prepared aimed at various other users of the area, especially those who will go on to other mountain areas; see the section on communication. Measures aimed at cervids in border zones A low density of moose, roe deer and red deer is important for preventing CWD from spreading to other populations or species. The municipalities in the area have been asked to facilitate the population reduction of moose, roe deer and red deer, cf. letter from the Norwegian Environment Agency 6 April 2017 and letter from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority 2 June A reduction in population size of around 20-30% is desirable, but how large the population is to begin with must be included in the basis for decision making. Areas where cervids have little overlap with wild reindeer from zone 1 or populations that are already reduced will be able to have a smaller reduction. It is important for population reduction to occur rapidly and that a low density is maintained right through the fallow period so as to increase the chances of success in eradicating CWD. The municipalities should facilitate for the populations to be sufficiently reduced by means of ordinary hunting. The municipalities will all receive an offer of assistance in preparing hunting plans that will give the desired reduction in density. The municipalities should also consider initiating other measures that could assist hunters in killing the desired number of cervids. If the desired reduction is not achieved through hunting, other culling measures would then need to be used. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority can take decisions after the 2017 hunting season to ensure that the population reduction will be achieved. When the fallow period is over and wild reindeer are reintroduced to Nordfjella zone 1, the municipalities can increase the populations of moose, roe deer and red deer to the desired level. Cervids in the border zones must be tested for CWD during the fallow and re-establishment periods. Area management during the fallow period Nordfjella wild reindeer area will continue to have the status of national wild reindeer area during the fallow period. A fallow period does not allow for any new long term land use that is in conflict with the needs of wild reindeer or that conflicts with the guidelines in the regional plan. This means that the wild reindeer committee for Nordfjella and Fjellheimen will continue its work of safeguarding conditions for wild reindeer in zone 1 during the period without wild reindeer. The fallow period can be used to implement mitigating measures to improve living conditions for wild reindeer in the area. Fences and GPS marking Important migration routes must be secured in such a way that wild reindeer do not enter zone 1 during the fallow period or move out of zone 1 after re-establishment. A fence must be erected as soon as possible near county road 50 across Geiteryggen between Nordfjella zone 1 and zone 2. This is a route that follows the old road route at Geiteryggen to the western end of Vesterdalsvannet. In total this section is about 10 km. The fence should remain in place until we are certain that the newly established wild reindeer in zone 1 are not reinfected with CWD, which probably means 20 years. The fence must be inspected throughout this period, especially in winter. The necessary permits will be obtained

28 from landowners and from the municipality under the Planning and Building Act. There will be an investigation of whether this measure requires a permit under the Roads Act. This will be followed up by the Norwegian Environment Agency and a dedicated project management should be established for setting up the fence. There is a need for a barrier fence alongside highway 52 to separate semi-domesticated reindeer and wild reindeer. This fence should also remain in place after re-establishment. This work will be followed up by the reindeer herding department at the office of the County Governor of Sør-Trøndelag. There must be an ongoing assessment of the need for further fences. Data from wild reindeer with GPS transmitters could indicate other stretches along county road 50 or in zone 1 where physical measures may be relevant. During the fallow period there must always be about males and 6-8 females in zone 2 with GPS transmitters. This will help in monitoring whether animals migrate towards the fallow area. The animals must also be followed up by the local supervisory authority. 20 to 30 roe deer in the border zone shall also be marked to monitor roe deer movements in the area during the fallow period. After re-establishment, wild reindeer (10-15 males and 5-15 females) in zone 1 shall be marked with GPS transmitters at all times. Measures and testing in source populations Reindeer that are introduced into Nordfjella zone 1 must be free of CWD. It is desirable to give a clean bill of health to populations rather than individual animals, which means that a sufficient number of animals from hunting and animals that are found dead must be tested in the populations that may be considered for obtaining wild reindeer. We wish to have at least 95% certainty of revealing CWD if the prevalence of the disease is 0.5% or more before we give a population a clean bill of health. The development of new methods for revealing CWD from excrement would mean greater certainty. In such a case it would be possible to test all animals that are to be transferred to zone 1. This would be very demanding however, since the zone shall be re-established with wild reindeer and every single animal would need to be captured for testing and then kept under observation until the results are available. By testing approximately 370 wild reindeer from zone 2, the population could be assumed to be free of CWD. In zone 2 therefore, all wild reindeer that are killed by hunting and all animals that are found dead must be tested for CWD, at least until the transfer of animals between zones is completed. The hunting strategy for zone 2 must allow for population growth so that more wild reindeer can be tested in connection with hunting without this having a negative effect on calf growth and density. Hardangervidda wild reindeer area is being tested for CWD in connection with hunting in If it becomes feasible to use wild reindeer from Hardangervidda to re-establish zone 1, testing must continue until animals from here are transferred to Nordfjella. It is important to give other possible source populations a clean bill of health, as well as zone 2 and Hardangervidda. Over the course of future hunting seasons, the national information gathering programme will prioritise testing of populations in the Langfjella region, i.e. Setesdal- Ryfylke wild reindeer area and Brattefjell- Vindeggen wild reindeer area. If CWD is found in Langfjella, testing wild reindeer in the Snøhetta, Rondane and Knutshø wild reindeer areas must be prioritised.

29 Re-establishment As well as reindeer that are introduced into Nordfjella zone 1 having to be free of CWD, it would be desirable for the area to be re-established with wild reindeer with the same origin as the present animals. That is to say wild reindeer from the Langfjella region. The plan is therefore that zone 1 shall be re-established with wild reindeer from Nordfjella zone 2, assuming that the wild reindeer population there is found to be free of CWD. The wild reindeer will be herded across to zone 1 in groups. This is also favourable from an animal welfare point of view since there is no need to immobilise and transport the animals. In Nordfjella zone 2 there are currently about 400 wild reindeer and the area does not have the grazing resources to support a larger population. Transferring approximately 100 females to zone 1 every year for three consecutive years would mean no, or extremely limited, hunting in zone 2 during this period. About 15 per cent males should also be transferred. By introducing 300 wild reindeer it would probably take about 6-7 years for there to be approximately 1,000 wild reindeer in the area. In the first years of the build-up phase the animals must have peace to establish themselves in zone 1 and there should be no hunting during this phase. Ongoing testing for the existence of prions in the area must be performed by testing faeces and animals that are found dead. Hunting in zone 1 can start after evaluation by the local wild reindeer administration and the Norwegian Environment Agency. All wild reindeer that are then killed must be tested for CWD. All reindeer that are found dead throughout the period must be tested for CWD. There will also be an ongoing assessment of the need to introduce animals from other wild reindeer areas and by methods other than by herding. This will be investigated in more detail during the fallow period. Establishing good methods for testing soil and faeces for prions will be important for testing whether zone 1 is free of CWD during a re-establishment phase. Re-establishment must be well planned and a group working on this should be operational over along period. The group should consist of relevant stakeholders from different local and national environments and it should follow up during the fallow period and also plan the reestablishment itself in more detail. The Norwegian Environment Agency is organising such a group. Uncertainty If the proportion of wild reindeer with CWD proves to be higher that assumed, this may lead to a longer fallow period than with a low proportion. This is because we assume that prions in the environment increase as the number of animals with CWD increases. When methods for revealing prions in soil and faeces are ready for use, this may affect the fallow period. The fallow period must be so long that the methods can no longer detect prions in the environment in zone 1. How this affects the length of the fallow period may

30 depend on whether prions are only detected within enclosed salt lick areas or in the environment generally. It may be difficult to determine this with certainty after the last reindeer have been eradicated from zone 1. Should further animals be found after it was assumed that the population had been eradicated and all of these test negative for CWD, this does not need to affect the fallow period. If new relevant knowledge shows that the infection spreading potential in moving grazing animals to and from the area represents a risk, restrictions on this activity will be considered. There is a risk that animals that are brought from zone 1 or Hardangervidda will return to where they came from. There must be ongoing consideration of putting up more fences if this is thought necessary to prevent the exchange of wild reindeer to and from Nordfjella zone 1. If CWD is found in zone 2, the area shall be re-established with wild reindeer from Hardangervidda, provided that populations or individuals that are transferred are established with certainty to be free of CWD. A revised re-establishment plan must then be devised. If CWD is found in Hardangervidda, other introduction possibilities must be investigated. 10 Timeline for removal and re-establishment In the letter from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food there was an assumption that the removal of wild reindeer from zone 1 would be complete by 1 May The process of erecting a barrier fence beside highway 52 was started on 28 April 2017 and is expected to be complete during the course of July The fence is to separate semi-domesticated reindeer from wild reindeer and it must therefore remain in place after re-establishment of zone 1. The reindeer herding department at the office of the County Governor of Sør-Trøndelag is responsible for this measure. Setting up the rounding up compound will start in summer The rest of the fencing will be erected on snow before the actual rounding up starts. The fences will be removed after use. An application for approval of the rounding up compound is being sent as soon as possible. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is responsible for this measure. Erecting a fence over Geitryggen and onward beside part of county road 50 will commence as soon as possible. The fence will be a physical divide between zone 1 and zone 2 of the Nordfjella wild reindeer area. The fence must also remain standing after re-establishment of zone 1 but it will be taken down after further assessment when the population is well established and healthy. The Norwegian Environment Agency is responsible for this measure. Work on securing the salt lick areas began in May The fences to be used for this measure have been ordered and are expected to be delivered before July The fences shall be put up in the period from 1 July until well into August. The fences should not be flown out in a way that disturbs active hunting. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is responsible for this measure and placing the fence in place will be in collaboration with grazing rights holders and landowners.

31 During the period 10 August to 31 October 2017 there will be an extended hunting season for wild reindeer in Nordfjella wild reindeer area zone 1. The government culling team has already started work through previous culling of males. Their assignment will last until 1 May 2018 or until all wild reindeer have been eradicated from zone 1. The main activity of the government culling team will begin after the hunting season, i.e. on 1 November, but can start earlier if an overall assessment by the operational leader finds that this will make culling more effective. Rounding up reindeer for slaughter will be done in winter conditions. This measure assumes that the rounding up compound has been erected, which means that the start-up must be adapted accordingly. Rounding up as a method will be constantly assessed on various aspects and it may be stopped if the method proves to be unsuitable. The timeline for measures for wild reindeer in zone 1 during the period June 2017 to May 2018 is shown in Figure The timing of the different measures may be adjusted during implementation. The fallow period starts when it is assumed that the last reindeer have been eradicated from the area and will last for at least five years. Re-establishment of wild reindeer will start immediately after the end of the fallow period. It is therefore important that relevant source populations are found to be clear of CWD before transfer to zone 1 starts. Hunting in zone 1 will restart some years after re-establishment at a time to be determined later. Figure 10.1: The figure shows in general terms what is planned to be done in different periods. Fences will be erected as quickly as possible and the period for their erection is somewhat dependent on obtaining the necessary permits. The process of securing salt licks has already begun. The period for government culling and rounding up may vary depending on various factors.

32 Deviations and adaptations may occur during the course of the work. a) given erection on bare ground; b) given erection on snow.

33 11 Sample material and research Need for more knowledge Diagnostics, method development and analyses based on material received will create the basis for the knowledge we acquire about CWD and the further management of the disease. Among other things, the material can be used for work on testing live cervids, testing faeces and to tell us about environmental infection and the effects of the fallow period. It is also important to gain more knowledge about the distribution of prions in different tissues of CWD positive animals and carcasses. For this reason, the plan is for comprehensive sample taking from animals that are eradicated from Nordfjella wild reindeer area, especially those with confirmed CWD. Method development, validation and implementation of tests on live animals and environmental infection (such as faeces), together with knowledge about genetic sensitivity for CWD, can be important success factors for the possibility of a successful re-establishment with healthy animals. Good methods for mapping out environmental infection could also streamline the monitoring of the disease in other parts of the country. Collection of sample material for testing and research A number of different samples will be taken from wild reindeer that are eradicated from the Nordfjella wild reindeer area; see table 11.1 for details. CWD is a national responsibility. All samples that are collected through the removal of Nordfjella wild reindeer area and all sample material that comes from animals with confirmed CWD are owned by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency on behalf of the government. Brain and lymph samples will be taken from all wild reindeer in Nordfjella. The samples are sent to the Norwegian Veterinary Institute in Oslo for analysis. Samples may also be used for research purposes. All wild reindeer that are eradicated from zone 1 shall be assessed for age. The lower jaws or front teeth shall therefore be sent to NINA in Trondheim, which will determine the age of the animals by tooth cross section. All faeces samples are sent to the Norwegian Veterinary Institute. Faeces samples must be taken from hunted animals and animals found dead before a diagnosis is made. This is to avoid material being lost, while with government culling and rounding up the entire animal will be kept until diagnosis is made, and thus also faeces.

34 Table The table shows the set-up for sample taking from wild reindeer in the Nordfjella wild reindeer area when culling the population in zone 1, as well as what samples will be taken from all animals with confirmed CWD. Samples will be taken if the material is available. Origin Sample From Taken by Hunting - hunters deliver head and faeces Government culling Animals found dead Brain All animals NINA Rear pharyngeal lymph nodes All animals NINA Lower jaw/front teeth All animals NINA Faeces All animals Hunters Brain All animals SNO Rear pharyngeal lymph node All animals SNO Lower jaw/front teeth All animals SNO Brain All animals SNO Rear pharyngeal lymph nodes All animals SNO Lower jaw/front teeth All animals SNO Faeces All animals SNO Round up Brain All animals The Norwegian Food Safety Authority Rear pharyngeal lymph node All animals The Norwegian Food Safety Authority Lower jaw/front teeth All animals The Norwegian Food Safety Authority Relevant additional samples from all positive cervids Faeces (round up, government culling) Positive animals Norwegian Veterinary Institute Outer part of rectum Positive animals Norwegian Veterinary Institute Shoulder lymph node and tonsil Positive animals Norwegian Veterinary Institute Salivary gland and saliva. Positive animals Norwegian Veterinary Institute Liver Positive animals Norwegian Veterinary Institute Spleen Positive animals Norwegian Veterinary Institute Muscle sample Positive animals Norwegian Veterinary Institute Urinary tract including kidney and Positive animals Norwegian Veterinary urine. Institute Blood Positive animals Norwegian Veterinary Institute Sample material will also be collected outside Nordfjella zone 1, in collaboration between hunters, local administration, NINA and the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, cf. section 5.3.

35 Further samples will be taken from animals with confirmed CWD; see table The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency ensure that positive material, and preferably the whole animal, is sent in a safe manner to the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, where samples are taken. Such samples will also be taken from cervids outside Nordfjella if CWD is confirmed. All samples will also be marked with a unique ID number, which accompanies the animal. The animal s gender, place of killing and date of killing will be noted. The data will be kept in the Norwegian Veterinary Institute database and a selection of data will also be kept in the Norwegian Environment Agency database, the Cervid Register, where it will be available for inspection. This will mainly be data such as ID number,cause of death, place of killing, gender, age and result of CWD test. The samples will be kept by NINA and the Norwegian Veterinary Institute. Proposal for a national CWD sample bank CWD is a disease for which the national administrative authorities have an important responsibility. It must be ensured that relevant material is kept for research that could help to increase knowledge that is relevant for administration. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency therefore propose to create a dedicated sample bank for CWD. Such a bank can be established along the lines of the Environmental Samples Bank, which is an archive of environmental samples from Norwegian nature. This bank was established as an important tool in national and international work against environmental toxins. The Environmental Samples Bank is owned by the Ministry of Climate and Environment and controlled by the Norwegian Environment Agency. The operation and development of the Environmental Samples Bank is in line with the recommendations of an expert group. This expert group also acts as a controlling board, assessing and approving applications for access to samples. Samples are added according to a programme that is approved by the Norwegian Environment Agency. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency propose that a CWD bank is set up along the lines of the Environmental Samples Bank. Al samples from the culling in Nordfjella, as well as samples from all cervids in Norway with confirmed CWD, will be kept here. The bank will be owned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (or the Ministry of Climate and Environment) and can be controlled by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency. Responsibility for day-to-day operation of the bank must be decided when its location is decided. We propose that a dedicated expert group is appointed that will assume board responsibility and develop the bank. 12 Communication measures The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency shall collaborate on effective and appropriate communication from public agencies about the handling of CWD in Nordfjella wild reindeer area. This will be done in collaboration with other public agencies such as the Norwegian Veterinary Institute and NINA, as well as local authorities. The local resource group, cf. section 13, should also be involved in communication work.

36 Information needs and target groups will vary. Before hunting, measures via The Wild Reindeer Committee (landowners), the Wild Reindeer Board (state appointed) and NINA are important, during hunting the local supervisory centre will be central. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency have a particular responsibility for information about government culling and rounding up operations. Various communication measures will be performed so as to ensure a good flow of information to stakeholders and affected groups. These include hunters, the local population, the general public, hikers and journalists. These measures are planned: Prepare frequently asked questions and answers that are continuously updated for all main target groups Prepare an information pack about CWD, which could contain: o Brochures or fact sheets with general information about the disease, infection and measures. o A brief information film o Infographics A prepared press pack o A picture archive for free use o A list of spokespersons and contact information for the press o Fact sheets about CWD with links to information films Simple information films o Facts about the disease o Sample taking - how it is done o Infection protection - how to protect yourself Perform open information meetings Hold seminars Facilitate information on websites 13 Organisation of the culling Being able to implement the measures in the plan requires a good organisation with clear lines and leaders with a clear mandate to perform their tasks. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency both have administrative responsibilities in connection with various legislation. The eradication work is endorsed in normal administrative lines. The agencies ensure that the measures are performed in line with the plan. Any adjustments to the plan must be endorsed in the respective lines. External expertise will be brought in as needed. An operational leader at SNO will be appointed for the culling. The operational leader will have responsibility for implementation in accordance with the objectives and within the framework of assigned resources and has a particular responsibility to ensure that different methods and measures do not come into conflict with each other in terms of time and space. A task leader will be appointed for the Norwegian Food Safety Authority's area of

37 responsibility for combating the disease, infection protection and animal welfare. The task leader will collaborate with the operational leader and they will constantly keep each other informed of the status and progress of ongoing processes. They report directly in their own lines to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency. A local resource group will also be set up with representatives from local authorities, wild reindeer committee, wild reindeer panel, reindeer herding administration, mountain supervision and the SNO locally. The group will be led by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority locally and the leader must work closely with the operational leader and task leader. A local supervisory centre will be set up for ordinary hunting in Nordfjella. The leader of this centre must work closely with the operational leader and task leader. During ordinary hunting the operational leader will coordinate the use of necessary government logistics resources, including the use of helicopters to carry out meat. Any commencement of government culling within the predetermined hunting season is decided by the operational leader in consultation with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency and after dialogue with the local resource group. The government culling team will at all times be subordinate to the operational leader, who is responsible for all logistic in connection with the use of personnel on the ground, shift lists, hire contracts, use of helicopter etc. Two culling leaders will be appointed on a shift basis, to assist the operational leader with day-to-day coordination of the field work. The operational leader is responsible for personnel for government culling. The commencment of the round up of wild reindeer in the compound is initiated by the operational leader after clearance from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and SNO are responsible for ensuring that the necessary logistics and crews for rounding up and slaughter are in place.

38 Figure Provisional outline of how the work of culling wild reindeer in Nordfjella zone 1 could be organised. The white boxes explain who has main responsibility for groups or measures. Norwegian text only. In connection with all measures there will be a number of parties engaged in various tasks. Who these are will vary form measure to measure. During ordinary hunting, NINA will be responsible for the collection of samples in collaboration with local wild reindeer management, while this responsibility rests with SNO and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority respectively for government culling and rounding up. The Norwegian Veterinary Institute ensures that all sample takers have the necessary equipment. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has the main responsibility for the correct handling of infection risk, in consultation with the Norwegian Veterinary Institute. The Norwegian Veterinary Institute is responsible for analysis of all CWD samples, while NINA performs age analyses. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority will supervise animal welfare and handling of infection risks. During the round up and slaughter in the compound, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority will be present and will focus particularly on animal welfare. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and operations leader will organise personnel for this process. These will