Revolutionizing Reindeer Herding: The Fight Against Misplaced Livestock in Finland

Forget about Santa’s sleigh; for reindeer herders in Finland, the stakes are much higher than holiday cheer. Each year, thousands of reindeer go missing—many never to be found again—leading to significant economic losses for herders and increased compensation claims from the government. The challenges intensify during winter: a fresh snowfall can erase vital tracks almost instantaneously, forcing herders to undertake blind searches across expansive and rugged terrain.

The High-Stakes World of Reindeer Herding

This issue isn’t merely a logistical headache; it poses an existential threat to a time-honored way of life. Traditional GSM-based tracking collars have proven insufficient—often bulky, power-hungry, and limited to sending only one location update per day. By the time herders organize a response, the trail is often cold.

Innovative Solutions: LoRaWAN Technology

To tackle these challenges, Finnish mapping technology company Mapitare has integrated Digital Matter’s ultra-rugged LoRaWAN Yabby3 trackers into the herding process. These state-of-the-art trackers are explicitly designed for extreme environments where connectivity can falter and where electronics are rigorously tested by harsh temperatures. “This is not a forgiving environment for electronics,” notes Loic Barancourt, CEO of Digital Matter.

Barancourt emphasizes that LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is particularly suited for reindeer tracking, combining long-range coverage with low power consumption—both critical for monitoring animals across wide and sparsely populated areas.

Mapping Efficiency: Turning Data into Action

Connectivity is only half of the efficiency equation; the other half involves transforming telemetry data into actionable insights. Digital Matter’s devices funnel data directly into Mapitare’s high-resolution mapping platform, which layers GNSS positions over terrain intelligence, elevation profiles, and known hazards.

“Herders can visualize precise GNSS coordinates in relation to valleys, elevation changes, and known dangers,” says Barancourt. This data significantly enhances recovery mission efficiency. Instead of merely guessing routes based on sparse data, herders can plan journeys that avoid avalanche-prone areas and perilous ridges, thus reducing exposure to risky terrains.

Early-Warning Alerts: Time is Critical

The Yabby3’s onboard accelerometer offers an additional layer of efficiency through inactivity alerts. If a reindeer remains stationary for a configurable time, the tracker sends a flag indicating potential issues like injury, entrapment, snow immobilization, or predator threats.

“These alerts act as crucial early-warning signals,” Barancourt explains. “Given that tracks can vanish in mere hours during snowfall, prompt notifications significantly boost the chances of timely animal recovery.”

For herders, this innovation translates to fewer wasted patrols and quicker, more targeted rescue operations, transforming reactive searches into proactive recoveries.

Documenting Success: The Economic Benefits

In an industry where profit margins highly depend on recovery rates and government compensation eligibility, data becomes invaluable. Frequent updates and alert logs produce a robust record for claims, while post-season analysis identifies recurring hazards, optimizing future routes.

The economic argument is compelling. The multi-year battery life and low-power connectivity minimize maintenance costs, while the shared LoRaWAN infrastructure keeps operational expenses low compared to traditional cellular options and far below satellite costs. “Even modest improvements in recovery rates can offset the cost of devices over time,” Barancourt asserts.

Scaling the Model: A Blueprint for Global Success

This successful deployment is already paving the way for future expansion. Sweden and Norway are expected to follow suit, and Barancourt believes the model is easily adaptable for other free-range livestock systems—be it cattle on rangelands, sheep in mountainous terrains, or mixed herds in remote pastures.

“The same principles apply,” he maintains. By combining rugged, low-power trackers with extensive area coverage and terrain-aware mapping, one can unlock efficiency in environments where traditional solutions tend to falter.

The Future of Herding: IoT as a Game Changer

For Finnish herders, LoRaWAN represents more than just a connectivity solution. By shrinking search windows, minimizing risks, and converting telemetry into actionable data, Mapitare and Digital Matter are demonstrating how IoT can not only sustain but also enhance methods of traditional herding. In the Arctic, where every minute counts, this technological evolution could mean the difference between being lost in the snow and being strategically informed.