Posted: Submitted by wtanaka (648) on Sat, 2005-10-01 13:15. | Subject: Poor Reindeer

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Santa Claus will receive $5,000 (2,830 pounds) in compensation from the Danish air force after an F-16 fighter jet frightened one of his reindeers to death.

Professional Danish Santa Olavi Niikanoff complained to the air force after a reindeer died with fright when a jet roared over the field where his animals were grazing, air force spokesman Captain Morten Jensen told Reuters.

"We acknowledge it was our fault and we have to pay compensation," Jensen said, adding that the air force regularly paid out sums of money to compensate for animals that die of fright when planes boom overhead.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050930/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_denmark_reindee