"A large-scale electronic identification process for the reindeer of Siberia's Khanty-Mansi's Yugra is underway, with stunning drone footage from December 14 showing the huge herds. Video features the reindeer travelling along snow-covered roads, with herders leading the animals into pens, as well as the process of 'chipping' the deer and entering their details into a special database. 'Veterinary Centre' budgetary institution Deputy Director, Pyotr Lomon, explained that electronic identification helped to keep the reindeer healthy and free from diseases. "We planned to chip more than 20,000 reindeer. <...> Mass chipping of deer allows us to know the number of animals, to plan all anti-epizootic veterinary measures and to know the exact number of deer we actually have," he said. Lomon added that after each chip is inserted into the ear, the wound heals quickly and does not affect the animal's life - and said that the new tech meant they could be tracked without having to scan each one individually. "Earlier we used a biocontrol scanner, and it was necessary to bring the reading antenna to each reindeer; now thanks to new chips and new equipment - there are already devices that read a much larger number [of information] at a time - there is no need to approach each reindeer," he added. Lomon said that the animal's chip number can be used to keep track of age, veterinary procedures, vaccinations and other tests. Khanty-Mansi regional head Ruslan Kukharuk said it was about making the lives of the Northern indigenous peoples easier, and developing the industry effectively. On Sunday, he confirmed that electronic chips had already been attached to 4,943 reindeer - with each undergoing vaccination, parasite treatment and disease diagnosis - and with eight state veterinary specialists and 17 reindeer herders involved in the process."