A director of the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate has found 322 dead reindeer in a small area in south of Hardangervidda. Probably they have been struck by lightning.

– They lay dead in a fairly concentrated area, so they’ve probably been pretty close. Reindeers are often stand close, said Knut Nylend by Norwegian Nature to NRK news.

On Friday a caretaker found that many animals died on Hardangervidda between Møsvatn and Kalhovd in Telemark. Nylend said that there has been a heavy thunderstorm in the area on Friday afternoon and they have been probably hit by lightning.

Norwegian Nature Inspectorate was in the area on Sunday to count and take samples of the animals.

– I cannot remember that we have heard of lightning that have taken the lives of animals in such a scale. There are many animals and relatively especially in this setting, said Nylend.

There are approximately 10,000 caribou that migrate over an area of 8,000 square kilometers on Hardangervidda, according to Norwegian Wild Reindeer Centre.

Hardangervidda has the Norway’s largest caribou range.

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today