Eventyret Norsk Moskus A/S

• Published in: Rangifer
• Main Author: Arnoldus Schytte Blix
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Septentrio Academic Publishing 2023
• Subjects: Animal culture; SF1-1100; Arctic; Bardu; Kvænangen; Moskus; Norway; Tromsø; muskox; Northern Norway; Rangifer
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.7557/2.43.1.7081; https://doaj.org/article/9482f93f90f14c1094ccea2bb1d14cb5

Norsk Moskus A/S was, for good or worse, Alfred Henningsen’s own private eterprise. It was by many, probably also by Henningsen himself, judged as a failure. That is hardly the full story. The project was inspired from USA, where a similar project was already under way with the purpose to domesticate the muskox to improve the economic and social conditions of native arctic people by using the wool to produce garment for sale. In addition, Henningsen wanted to secure the economy by tourism based on public interest in the animals. He also approached the new university in Tromsø for cooperation from the very beginning. The operation was established in Bardu in northern Norway and had several shortcomings already from the beginning in 1969. It had no financial base whatsoever, as Henningsen assumed that his connections as member of Parliament would soon provide the cash. That did not happen. The information from USA was (quite erroneously) that domestication of muskox was very easy, and therefore, and because of bad economy, no relevant husbandry expertice was involved. Instead, the project was managed by amateurs and enthusiastic volunters. The expected cooperation with research institutions did not materialise either. In spite of this, the project took off rather well during the first few years. Calf production was good, wool and garment production was well under way and tourists brought in the cash. Even so, because of the need for heavy infrastructure investments they were always economically behind, and very soon had to sell animals to avoid bankrupsy. 1975 became a turningpoint. At that time they were hit by a massive outbreak of Contagious echtyma which killed all the calves and half of the adult bulls, and a local resident was killed by a bull which had escaped from the farm. The latter turned a hitherto positive attitude among the locals to become rather hostile, and necessitated a move of the whole operation to Årøya in Kvænangen where the locals were still positive in 1976. The relocation inflicted new ...