‘Santa’s reindeer’ are under threat — are Russia’s wolves to blame?

Reindeer herders are suffering from a surge in wolf attacks. Upgrade to watch the full report.

“These are Santa’s reindeer. But we are really lucky because Santa needs them only one day of the year. So we can fly them 364.”

It’s a well-rehearsed line. Juha Kujala has uttered it many times over the years. Even to the scant crowd of a visiting reporting team from CNN, he still delivers it with a grin.

Recently though, Kujala’s reindeer herd has found itself in unusual danger. On a near daily basis, he’s coming across reindeer carcasses. And he directs blame at an unlikely suspect: Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose war in Ukraine has long-reaching consequences.

Kujala’s family has been herding reindeer in Kuusamo, northern Finland, for over 400 years. More recently, he’s also opened his land to the hordes of tourists who travel from all over the world, searching for a uniquely festive experience.