The North Corrida (ongoing project)

Reindeer breeding is for a very long time the main occupation of Khanty people living in Tundra.

Reindeer breeding is for a very long time the main occupation of Khanty people living in Tundra. In the end of each year reindeer-breeders carry out the slaughtering of reindeers to get winter stock of meat, make new warm cloths and to have some money to buy snowmobiles and portable generators. They run their herds hundreds kilometers to slaughterhouse to count and select animals. Some animals are slaughtered while others left alive. Slaughtering season is up to one month depending on the number of reindeers. It takes 1 or 2 days to deal with a 2,000 animal herd. Despite the fact that Yamal region is very reach and full of "gas money", only a few slaughtering stations use more or less civilized methods of slaughtering. The whole process hasn't changed for hundreds years: 15-20 reindeers are penned one by one and breeders decide the death and life dilemma for the animals... Blood on the snow, body pieces and animal skins... Smell of death over this "North corrida" throws reindeers into horror and rage. Sometimes breeders leave the place with their broken ribs, hands or legs like matadors. No matter how dangerous and heavy this job is the atmosphere of savage and revelry reigns over the place.