Landing of the "Anita" at Cremeliere harbor in ice,
December, 1907, with 300 reindeer from Norway.
The same year Vashti arrived in Newfoundland,
the reindeer came as well. Dr. Grenfell in his efforts to promote
the health and industry of the region, arranged to have 300
reindeer imported from Norway to serve both as a food source
and as draught animals to help diversify the region's economy.
In addition to bringing the reindeer to Newfoundland, he also
arranged for their handlers to accompany them. A group of Laplanders
skilled in reindeer handling along with their herding dogs traveled
to Newfoundland to provide training for the local populace.
Landing the "Lapwoman" at St. Anthony's.
Laplanders at St. Anthony with reindeer-sleds.
Ultimately, Grenfell's "reindeer experiment"
was viewed as having failed. Although the herd increased dramatically
over the ensuing decades, the reindeer eventually disappeared
from the region, having been either taken by local hunters or
absorbed incrementally into the caribou herds.
