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| Sunday, 19 December 2004 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Reindeer - unique among deer
Even though these hooved animals are related to the other kind of deer found in most parts of the world, they are unique in many ways, perhaps due to the climatic conditions of the habitat in which they live. The hooves of reindeer are unlike those of other deer. They are broad and enables the animals to walk on and dig deep snow for food. The hooves are also flexible and can be spread out to carry the animals on soft ground or snow. Reindeer can be found around the whole northern Polar Circle and also in Mongolia and a small area of China closest to the Mongolian border. The huge antlers which give a majestic appearance to these creatures are not the pride of males only. Both reindeer bulls and cows have antlers which the males use mostly to defend their territorial and herd rights and protect themselves while the females use theirs to protect their young from predators. When a calf or several calves are weak and cannot protect themselves, the cows surround the weak and stay in defence with their horns protruding outward, against any danger. But the horn is only used as a last resort. The reindeer in the various parts of the world belong to the same species even though they look different and are even called Caribu in Canada and Alaska. The caribu are large wild, elk-like animals and can be found above the tree-line in Arctic North America and Greenland. They migrate great distances each year. A caribu calf can run within 90 minutes of its birth. It must do this in order to keep up with the migrating herds. Reindeer were domesticated in Northern Eurasia about 2000 years ago. Many people in the Arctic, Europe and Asia, including the Sami in Scandinavia, and the Nenets, Chuckeli and others in Russia herd reindeer. They depend on the reindeer for almost everything; their food, clothing and shelter. Some Nenets even keep reindeer as pets! How about asking Santa for a reindeer as a pet? Reindeer and caribu have unique hairs which trap air, providing them with excellent insulation. These hairs help them keep afloat in water and they are strong swimmers too. Did you know that they can swim across wide rushing rivers and even move across the frozen ice of the Arctic Ocean? Not surprising that Santa chose them to drive his sleigh, isn't it? They are social animals that live in herds. But the reindeer and caribu are a hunted species either for food, clothing or transportation. They can never live free. **** Fact File * The ancien Sami people used to milk the reindeer * Their tendons and sinews were and are still used to make shoes and clothing and even to put up their cone-shaped 'tents'. * The reindeer carry their foetus from September/October until May/June. The babies are ensured of food by the time they are born. * When threatened, a reindeer always flees from danger. If they get seriously stressed they will run in a straight line. * No less than 1/4 of Earth's land surface is used for reindeer herding, but most of this area is in the remote Arctic and sub-Arctic * Alaskan caribu are clove-brown with white neck and rump. * Chukothan reindeer, as a result of domestication have varied pelt combinations of brown, grey, black and white in the same herd. * A caribu bull's antlers can reach four feet in width. Reindeer antlers are smaller. |
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| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
Remember Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer and Santa's helpers, Dancer,
Prancer, Dasher and others who draw his sleigh as he travels the world
distributing toys? Now that they are very much in the news with Christmas
just round the corner, let's check out how these unique creatures live in
their habitats in the Arctic and sub-Arctic terrains.
