Page 17 - Thrapston Life December 2023

LITTLE
HELPERS
Reindeer facts
It’s almost Christmas time! But before Santa’s little helpers set off pulling his sleigh, here are some interesting facts about reindeer.
• In Europe Reindeer go back 16,000 years
when they were once abundant. Primitive humans relied heavily on reindeer for their skins to keep them warm, meat to sustain them and bones to create tools. They are the only deer to be domesticated some 3,000 years ago.
• To the Sami, the indigenous people of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia, reindeer are important animals both in their culture and for sustenance.
• Adult female reindeer weigh 60-100kg, males 90-180kg.
• Reindeer are strong, energy-efficient running machines. A 6-10 kg calf can outrun a man, and reindeer in general are more efficient than most other land mammals.
• When reindeer walk you will hear a clicking sound, these are the tendons in the feet joints. This helps herds stay together in low visibility.
• Reindeer eat certain types of lichen and have ultraviolet vision, which allows them to find food even under 60cm of snow. These plant materials help to keep them warm so that they can survive icy winters.
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