Apr 8, 2016 3:40 PM

Gallery: Radioactive Reindeer Roam Norway 30 Years After Chernobyl

Amos Chapple/RFE/RL
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Sami herders corral reindeer near Snåsa, Norway. Thirty years after the Chernobyl disaster, traces of nuclear radiation can still be found in the animals.
Amos Chapple/RFE/RL
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In Norway, reindeer with radiation levels under 3,000 becquerel per kilogram are considered safe to eat.

Amos Chapple/RFE/RL
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Lichen and fungus are a staple of the reindeer's diet, both of which absorbed much of the Chernobyl fallout.
Amos Chapple/RFE/RL
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The Sami have herded reindeer in the region for centuries.

Amos Chapple/RFE/RL
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Herders test reindeer for radiation levels. Those that are too high must be released.
Amos Chapple/RFE/RL
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A herder keeps track of radiation levels. All the animals that day fell beneath the 3,000 becquerel per kilo limit.

Amos Chapple/RFE/RL
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While most reindeer are considered safe to slaughter, the Sami are still cautious and apprehensive about radiation levels.

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