where do the reindeer people live

The reindeer (Rangifer tarandus

), also known as the caribou in North America, is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. This includes both sedentary and migratory populations.

Full Answer

Where do reindeer generally reside?

Reindeer live in some of the coldest places on earth. They live in the Northern parts of North America in Canada and Alaska. They also live in Europe, Russia, and Greenland. Lets us not forget with Santa at the North Pole. Reindeer live on tundras. Tundra is a vast flat, treeless land covered in snow most of the time in the Arctic region.

What is the lifespan of a reindeer?

With the exception of Rudolph and Santa’s other Reindeer (who are magical creatures and live forever), the maximum lifespan of wild living Reindeer is between 10 and 15 years. However few animals reach this age due to the presence of predators and the hostile climates in which they live. The average maximum age for Reindeer is about 4 years.

What is the difference between a reindeer and a caribou?

• The Reindeer is smaller in size than the Caribou.
• The Reindeer is located in Scandinavia and Russia while the Caribou is located in North America.
• The Reindeer calves are born in April while the caribou calves are born in May.
• The Reindeer have a thicker, denser fur than the Caribou.
• The Reindeer is domesticated while the Caribou roams in the wild.

Where are reindeer found in the wild?

Reindeer, species of deer found in the Arctic tundra and adjacent boreal forests of Greenland, Scandinavia, Russia, Alaska, and Canada. There are two varieties: tundra reindeer and forest (or woodland) reindeer. Learn more about the characteristics, habitat, and diet of reindeer in this article.

Where do the Eveny live?

There are approximately 20000 Eveny, with about half living in the North East of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Eveny have traditionally practiced semi nomadism with small scale reindeer husbandry and hunting, including of reindeer.

Where do reindeer herders live?

Reindeer herding is conducted in 9 countries; Norway, Finland, Sweden, Russia, Greenland, Alaska, Mongolia, China and Canada. A small herd is also maintained in Scotland. There are about 30 reindeer herding peoples in the world and 3,4 million semi-domesticated reindeer.

What are reindeer farmers called?

reindeer herderA person who conducts reindeer herding is called a reindeer herder and approximately 100,000 people are engaged in reindeer herding today around the circumpolar North.

What country is reindeer popular?

sibiricus) in Russia is the largest wild reindeer herd in the world, varying between 400,000 and 1,000,000.

Where do reindeer live in USA?

This year, in the dead of winter, America's wild reindeer went extinct in the contiguous United States. After years of dwindling, the last remaining herd of caribou known to roam between Canada and the Pacific Northwest states of Idaho and Washington was down to just one known member.

Are reindeer in Alaska?

Reindeer are domestic cousins to caribou. There are about 18,000 reindeer in Alaska, and about 12,000 of those are on the Seward Peninsula. Reindeer are also found on Nunivak Island, St. Lawrence Island, the Pribilof Islands and some of the Aleutian Islands.

Who are the people who herd reindeer?

The Sámi are the indigenous reindeer herders of Scandinavia. These stunning photos show a herd on its annual migration between the summer pastures and the wintering grounds. Autumn in northern Norway: reindeer gather among the birch trees of Arnøy island, high above the arctic circle.

Where did Sami migrate from?

Where do the Sami come from? The Sami who inhabit Sápmi today are the descendants of nomadic peoples who had inhabited northern Scandinavia and what is now Finland for thousands of years.

Why are people the reindeer herd?

Reindeer herding provided not only for their personal needs but also a form of wealth to pay taxes. There were also demands from the outsiders for reindeer as draft animals. The outsiders exploited the Sami and the reindeer for mining.

Where do the most reindeer live?

Reindeer are found in a large circumpolar region surrounding the North Pole, in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, northern Europe and northern Asia in tundra, mountains and woodland habitats. Their home ranges can be as big as 190 square miles (500 square km), according to Encyclopedia Britannica.

Where do reindeer live in Canada?

the Northwest TerritoriesThey're the most iconic creatures of the holiday season – and yes, they're a real thing. Canada's only reindeer herd lives up in the Northwest Territories, just a stone's throw from the North Pole.

Where can I visit the reindeer?

The Best Places to See Reindeer Around the WorldThe Cairngorms Reindeer Centre, Scotland.Tromsø Arctic Reindeer, Norway.Large Animal Research Station, Alaska.Reindeer Lodge Nutti Sámi Siida, Sweden.Viewpoint Snøhetta, Norway.World Reindeer Racing Championships, Norway.

Where Are Reindeer in America?

A pair of young female reindeer stand in front of a beautiful glacial background. Watson Lake, Yukon, Canada. In young reindeer, the antlers are smaller, but they grow bigger each year.

Are Reindeer In the North Pole?

According to traditional festive legend in some parts of the world, Santa Claus’s reindeer are said to pull a sleigh through the night sky to help Santa Claus deliver gifts to children on Christmas Eve.

Where are reindeer native to?

The reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus ), also known as caribou in North America, is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. This includes both sedentary and migratory populations.

What is the name of the reindeer?

Carl Linnaeus chose the name Rangifer for the reindeer genus, which Albertus Magnus used in his De animalibus, fol. Liber 22, Cap. 268: "Dicitur Rangyfer quasi ramifer". This word may go back to the Saami word raingo. Linnaeus chose the word tarandus as the specific epithet, making reference to Ulisse Aldrovandi 's Quadrupedum omnium bisulcorum historia fol. 859–863, Cap. 30: De Tarando (1621). However, Aldrovandi and Konrad Gesner thought that rangifer and tarandus were two separate animals. In any case, the tarandos name goes back to Aristotle and Theophrastus .

How big are bull reindeer antlers?

In the largest subspecies, the antlers of large males can range up to 100 cm (39 in) in width and 135 cm (53 in) in beam length. They have the largest antlers relative to body size among living deer species. Antler size measured in number of points reflects the nutritional status of the reindeer and climate variation of its environment. The number of points on male reindeer increases from birth to five years of age and remains relatively constant from then on. "In male caribou, antler mass (but not the number of tines) varies in concert with body mass." While antlers of bull woodland caribou are typically smaller than barren-ground caribou, they can be over one metre (3') across. They are flattened, compact and relatively dense. Geist describes them as frontally emphasised, flat-beamed antlers. Woodland caribou antlers are thicker and broader than those of the barren-ground caribou and their legs and heads are longer. Quebec-Labrador bull caribou antlers can be significantly larger and wider than other woodland caribou. Central barren-ground bull caribou are perhaps the most diverse in configuration and can grow to be very high and wide. Mountain caribou are typically the most massive with the largest circumference measurements.

How many layers of fur does a caribou have?

The coat has two layers of fur: a dense woolly undercoat and longer-haired overcoat consisting of hollow, air-filled hairs. Fur is the primary insulation factor that allows reindeer to regulate their core body temperature in relation to their environment, the thermogradient, even if the temperature rises to 100 °F (38 °C). In 1913 Dugmore noted how the woodland caribou swim so high out of the water, unlike any other mammal, because their hollow, "air-filled, quill-like hair" acts as a supporting "life jacket."

Why are reindeer herds important?

Reindeer herding has been vital for the subsistence of several Eurasian nomadic indigenous people living in the circumpolar Arctic zone as Sámi, Nenets, and Komi. Reindeer are used to provide renewable sources and reliable transportation. In Mongolia, Dukha people are known as the reindeer people. They are credited as one of the world's earliest domesticators. Dukha diet consists mainly of reindeer dairy products.

Why are lichens important for reindeer?

The environmental variations play a large part in reindeer nutrition, as winter nutrition is crucial to adult and neonatal survival rates. Lichens are a staple during the winter months as they are a readily available food source, which reduces the reliance on stored body reserves. Lichens are a crucial part of the reindeer diet; however, they are less prevalent in the diet of pregnant reindeer compared to non-pregnant individuals. The amount of lichen in a diet is found more in non-pregnant adult diets than pregnant individuals due to the lack of nutritional value. Although lichens are high in carbohydrates, they are lacking in essential proteins that vascular plants provide. The amount of lichen in a diet decreases in latitude, which results in nutritional stress being higher in areas with low lichen abundance.

Why do reindeer make clicking sounds?

The frequency of the knee-clicks is one of a range of signals that establish relative positions on a dominance scale among reindeer. "Specifically, loud knee-clicking is discovered to be an honest signal of body size, providing an exceptional example of the potential for non-vocal acoustic communication in mammals." The clicking sound made by reindeer as they walk is caused by small tendons slipping over bone protuberances (sesamoid bones) in their feet . The sound is made when a reindeer is walking or running, occurring when the full weight of the foot is on the ground or just after it is relieved of the weight.

Where are reindeer domesticated?

Domestication. Reindeer are the only domesticated deer in the world. This domestication occurs in Russia, Norway, Finland, and Sweden. The animals are selectively bred for temperament, meat production, milk production, antler size, and more.

Where do reindeer graze?

Reindeer grazing on the Ruka ski slopes, Finland. Part of a herd of reindeer, photographed on Nunivak Island, Alaska. Scottish reindeer. A large, male reindeer in a meadow. Reindeer grazing in a meadow.

What is the difference between reindeer and caribou?

Reindeer vs. Caribou – While the terms “reindeer” and “caribou” both describe the same species, Rangifer tarandus, the names are not usually used interchangeably. In North America, the name most commonly used for these mammals is caribou. In Eurasia, they are almost always referred to as reindeer.

How long does it take for a reindeer to give birth?

After breeding, pregnant females will leave their herd to travel to the calving grounds. Many females will congregate together, all giving birth within ten days of one another. Most of the time, the mother caribou will give birth to a single calf, though twins have been recorded.

Why are reindeer used in Alaska?

They are commonly used to pull sleds or even to ride, and oftentimes become tourist attractions for this reason. Domesticated reindeer have also been introduce to Alaska, and are used as a means of livelihood for the indigenous tribes.

What is the food source of reindeer?

The main food source for reindeer in the winter months is lichen. There is even a species of lichen named after them – the “reindeer lichen .” Lichens are combined creatures that are made up of fungi and algae, living in a symbiotic relationship for survival.

What is the color of a reindeer?

Description of the Reindeer. Reindeer (caribou) fur ranges widely in color, based on the subspecies in question. Some fur can be nearly white, while other subspecies have fur that is quite dark. Because caribou live in incredibly cold habitats, they sport an insulated double coat.

Other Animals They Use

An interesting fact about the Dukha tribe is that they believe they have a spiritual connection with animals which explains how in sync they are with nature and wildlife. Aside from reindeer, they also train wolves and golden eagles to aid them in their hunting. A family or clan that has an eagle is highly esteemed in the community.

Making A Living

This Mongolian tribe lives off the animals they hunt. They also exchange the animals they’ve hunted for money. The usual amount they receive for rabbits is around 2USD. They also live off the tourist industry of Mongolia. Visitors pay for performances and reindeer rides.

Shelter

As with most tribes in Mongolia, Dukha live in yurts which are circular tents that have collapsible frames. Yurts are commonly used by nomads of Mongolia, Siberia, and Turkey. Because the Dukha people are nomads, they move around based on what season it is. Their population is getting thinner, sad to say.

How many Norwegian saami are involved in reindeer herding?

Meanwhile in Norway, Dr Nicholas Tyler from the Centre for Saami Studies at the University of Tromsø, tells SBS that "probably as few as 10 per cent of Norwegian Saami are directly involved - to a greater or lesser degree - with reindeer herding".

What year did the reindeer herding act start?

Under the 1971 Reindeer Herding Act, only Saami people are able to pursue it as a livelihood.

What animals did the Saami people herd?

The Saami people are believed to be the first in the world to begin herding and taming animals. They used tamed reindeer to pull sleds as a means of transporting goods across long distances and to lure wild reindeer into their herds.

What is the relationship between the Saami people and the land?

The Saami people's relationship with the land is traditionally a harmonious one where respect is shown for the environment's natural cycle of recovery so as not to over deplete any one resource.

Where are the Saami people?

Their culture and history dates back tens of thousands of years and has been shaped by the harsh conditions of their traditional home in and around the Arctic Circle.

Can herders graze livestock?

Since then, exploratory mining digs and have further restricted the areas herders can graze their livestock as has the expansion of neighboring communities.

Do Saami herds dwindle?

Sadly, the number of Saami reindeer herders are dwindling. The success of the trade relies on extensive tracts of land for the reindeer to graze upon and the ability of the herd to move to new and different types of pastures as the seasons change.

Where do reindeer live?

Reindeer are native to the Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. Some populations of this species are sedentary while others perform long seasonal migrations from birthing grounds to summer and winter feeding grounds.

How many reindeer are there in the world?

Reindeer were some of the last animals that humans domesticated, considered by some to still not be fully tame. There are about 2.5 million domesticated reindeer in nine countries, with about 100,000 people tending to them, being approximately half the world’s total reindeer population.

How do reindeer hooves work?

In the winter, the pads shrink and tighten, exposing the rim of the hoof, which cuts into the ice and crusted snow to keep reindeer from slipping. This also enables them to dig down (an activity known as "cratering") through the snow to their favorite food, a lichen known as reindeer lichen.

What are reindeer's coats?

Reindeer are large deer, with a thick coat that is brown during the summer, and during the winter it is gray. They have a pale colored chest and undersides, with their rump and tail being white. Males and females both have antlers, with those of males being larger and more complex. Males usually shed them after breeding, whereas females don’t do so until spring. They have specialized hooves that will adapt in relation to the season. In summer their footpads turn spongy to give extra traction, while in winter the pads tighten and shrink to expose the edge of the hoof so they can cut into the snow and ice so that they don’t slip. They have nasal turbinate bones which serve to increase the surface area in their nostrils. Cold air can thus be warmed up by their body heat prior to entering their lungs.

How do reindeer find food?

They can find food under snow, presumably by being able to smell it. They use their front hooves to dig craters to reach the food. Dominant reindeer will frequently take over the craters dug by subordinate individuals. Group name. herd, mob, gang.

When do reindeer antlers grow?

Antlers begin to grow on male reindeer in March or April and on female reindeer in May or June. This process is called antlerogenesis. Antlers grow very quickly every year on the males. As the antlers grow, they are covered in thick velvet, filled with blood vessels, and spongy in texture. The velvet that covers growing antlers is highly vascularised skin. When the antler growth is fully grown and hardened, the velvet is shed or rubbed off.

How do reindeer see?

Reindeer can see light with wavelengths as short as 320 nm (i.e. in the ultraviolet range), considerably below the human threshold of 400 nm. It is thought that this ability helps them to survive in the Arctic, because many objects that blend into the landscape in light visible to humans, such as urine and fur, produce sharp contrasts in ultraviolet. A specific layer of tissue in the eye of Arctic reindeer changes in color from gold in summer to blue in winter to improve their vision during times of continuous darkness, and perhaps enable them to better spot predators.

Overview

The reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), also known as the caribou in North America, is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. This includes both sedentary and migratory populations. It is the only representative of the genus Rangifer. Herd size varies greatly in different geographic regions.

Naming

Taxonomy and evolution

Subspecies

Physical characteristics

Biology and behaviours

Ecology

Conservation