Domesticated reindeer are small, and were first domesticated around 2,000 years ago in northern Eurasia.Reindeer can still be found in the wild throughout Eurasia, but the reindeer is best recognized as a domesticated animal. Many Arctic peoples in Europe and Asia still herd these mammals (reindeer) today, relying on reindeer for practically everything in their economy, including food, clothing, and housing.Caribou are the only deer species with antlers on both the male and female, albeit, only some females have them.After reading about the Rangifer tarandus species native to the tundra in the North, also read about deer vs elk and mule deer vs whitetail.Are wild reindeer called caribou?Reindeer and caribous are members of the deer family and belong to the same species, Rangifer tarandus.Reindeer is the name given to them throughout Europe. If the animals are wild, they are called caribou, and if they are domesticated, they are called reindeer in North America.Can caribou and reindeer interbreed?Caribou can only interbreed with reindeer.This is also because both reindeer and caribou are animals of the same species, Rangifer tarandus. The only difference is that reindeer are just a domesticated variant of caribou.What is the difference between a caribou and a reindeer?The primary difference between reindeer and caribou is that caribou are big, wild, elk-like species native to northern North America and Greenland. Caribou never became domesticated. Reindeer are smaller and became domesticated around 2,000 years ago in northern Europe and Asia.One difference between caribou and reindeer is that caribou herds migrate thousands of kilometers in large herds between their breeding and wintering sites in the northern tundra, the longest migration of any terrestrial mammals on the planet. These are a large species with antlers as big and proud as those of a moose.Some reindeer herds, on the other hand, can live a tame and sedentary existence, all while being watched over by their human herder.Differences In Their Hooves And AntlersMost other deer species only have antlers on the males, whereas reindeer have antlers on both males and females. When compared to their body size, reindeer have the largest and thickest antlers of any extant deer species. A male reindeer has antlers that can grow to be 51 in (129.5 cm) long, while antlers in females can grow to be up to 20 in (50.8 cm) long.Antlers fall off and grow larger each year. In February, male reindeer begin to grow antlers, and female reindeer begin to grow antlers in May. Both males and females complete antler growth simultaneously but lose them at various times during the year.Around November, the males begin to lose their antlers and remain without them until the springtime is near. Though, females maintain their antlers until May as this is the time when their calves are born.Caribou, which are related to deer, have huge hooves that are advantageous in the tough northern climate. Caribou are big enough to sustain the weight of animals on snow and paddle it through the snow water efficiently.The underside of their hooves is scooped out and used to scrape through the snow for nourishment. Its sharp edges provide a good grip on rocks or snow for the animal.The Migrations Of Caribou And ReindeerThe migration of caribou is one of the world’s largest large-animal migrations.Caribou head north as summer approaches, following well-worn annual patterns. To get to their summer grazing pastures, some caribou herds may travel more than 600 mi (965.6 km). Caribou then spend the summer months grazing grounds on the tundra’s rich grasses and flora, it is also during this time when caribou give birth. Each day, an adult caribou can consume 12 lb (5.4 kg) of food.Each year, as the first snowfalls, the caribou migrate south. Female caribou herds, known as cows, depart several weeks before males, who arrive with yearling calves from the previous birthing season. The caribou herd spends the winter in more sheltered areas, grazing on lichens to stay alive.Reindeer go to forested grounds in the winter to feed under the snow. By spring, reindeer groups move on from their wintering areas to calving pastures. Reindeer can swim comfortably and fast, often at 4 mph (6.4 kph), but up to 6 mph (9.6 kph) if necessary, and migrating reindeer herds will not hesitate to swim over a huge lake or broad river.How can domestication change reindeer and caribous?Reindeer and caribou species were taken to other parts of the world from the Boreal woods of northern Europe and Asia. Humans turned reindeer into animals of burden and exploited their resources. As a result, a new relationship had formed between humans and reindeer.Wild reindeer were tamed by humans with time and with greater human interaction. Reindeer herds were surviving in the wild and being followed by nomadic groups of humans who relied on them for existence, but reindeer became willing to stay in limited places and not migrate.Humans discovered an animal that supplied a lucrative resource to rival the cow in a southern climate, as reindeer settled in northern Europe and Asia. Reindeer hides have been used to manufacture clothing and shelter for thousands of years, and antlers and bones have been utilized to make weapons, tools, utensils, and other goods.Domesticated reindeer have changed dramatically over thousands of years as a result of their reliance on people. Domesticated reindeer fur is thicker, and they have become considerably more sedentary. Instead of embarking on seasonal trips like their North America-dwelling counterparts, they stick to grazing regions.Wild reindeer populations do exist in Norway, Russia, and Greenland, though.While humans use caribou in North America, caribou never went through the domestication process that reindeer did in Europe and Asia. Across the continent, especially in northern Canada, these animals remain wild and more in sync with what caribou were 5,000 years ago.Conserving Reindeer And CaribouCaribou are listed as Vulnerable to extinction, which is one step up from Endangered.Changes in their terrain, like the introduction of new fences or other human activity along their migration paths, might be extremely disruptive because of the migratory nature of caribou.Climate change poses concern as well. Due to climate change, they become more susceptible to illnesses and parasites as the Arctic warms, which could quickly spread through a herd.Reindeer populations have plummeted during the last few decades. The Wildlife Conservation Society and the Earth Rangers created the ‘Bring Back the Wild—Save the Real Reindeer’ campaign to stem the loss of reindeer. The project will gather funds to support the Wildlife Conservation Society efforts to protect caribou in the ‘Ring of Fire’ region of northern Ontario.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for caribou vs reindeer, then why not take a look at deer species or reindeer facts?
Domesticated reindeer are small, and were first domesticated around 2,000 years ago in northern Eurasia.
