Reindeer

Rangifer tarandus

Reindeer, Rangifer tarandus, are the Eurasian name for the deer known as caribou in much of North America, though domesticated and wild populations differ by region and history. They are cold-adapted herd animals with broad splayed hooves for snow, tundra, and boggy ground, a dense insulating coat, and antlers usually grown by both males and females. Wild forms range across Arctic and subarctic landscapes, with some herds making long seasonal migrations, while domesticated reindeer have been shaped by northern pastoral cultures for transport, meat, hides, milk in some areas, and ceremonial use.

Reindeer are managed by Indigenous herders, commercial farms, research programs, wildlife agencies, and zoos. They need secure fencing, room to move as a herd, mineral-balanced feed or browse suited to deer, and shade or cooling strategies in warm climates; heat stress and parasites can be more limiting than cold. Captive programs monitor chronic wasting disease rules where relevant, hoof condition, antler cycles, calving, and safe handling during rut. Conservation work for wild caribou and reindeer focuses on migration corridors, calf survival, disease surveillance, and disturbance from roads, resource development, and climate-driven changes to lichen ranges.