Rebranding Rudolf

A Thirties children’s book gave life to the Christmas reindeer that has captivated generations, but the real Rudolf is just as fascinating, says Amy-Jane Beer.

- Amy-Jane Beer

Tilly Smith is under no illusion about what brings visitors to Reindeer House in Glenlivet, on the flanks of Cairngorm. “They want to see Rudolf while he’s off duty,” she says. “But I don’t mind that, because it gives me a chance to show them that these really are no ordinary ungulates.” And Tilly, who is herder and co-owner of the Cairngorm reindeer herd, has a point. Reindeer, or caribou as they’re called in North America, are amazing, surprising creatures, well worthy of a serious naturalist’s attention. However, since being reinvented as a red-nosed children’s character by Robert L May in 1939, their fascinating ecology has been somewhat obscured.

Reindeer are among the most widespread terrestrial mammals and their wanderings cover about one-fifth of the planet’s land. Up to half a million pregnant females of Alaska’s Western Arctic herd travel 5,000km each year, from forested wintering areas to calving grounds far north of the treeline. This epic migration – the longest of any land animal – takes the reindeer beyond the reach of wolves and they arrive early enough that the newborn calves are spared the onslaught of summer mosquitoes during the first few weeks of their lives. The births, in June,are synchronised, with tens of thousands of calves arriving on the same day.