Svalbard Reindeer

Reindeer, known as caribou in North America, are members of the species Rangifer tarandus and comprise 6–8 extant subspecies, including the unique Svalbard reindeer. They are widespread across the Arctic, from boreal forests to the northernmost barren lands, and are the most abundant large animals in the region. Reindeer have been closely linked to human cultures for over 3,000 years, particularly in northern Eurasia, where they are domesticated for milk, meat, hides, and as beasts of burden. Large and sexually dimorphic, males are significantly bigger than females. Their dense, woolly coats vary from brown to olive with whitish underparts, and their broad, cleft hooves allow efficient movement over snow and tundra. Reindeer are herbivorous, feeding on a wide variety of vegetation including leaves, lichens, and twigs. Most populations are migratory, traveling seasonally between wintering grounds in the boreal forest and calving grounds in the high Arctic, with distances sometimes reaching 1,000 kilometres. They are the only deer species in which both males and females grow antlers, although their size and timing differ between the sexes.

Diet and Behaviour 

Svalbard reindeer are non-migratory and display sedentary behaviour that helps them conserve energy in the extreme Arctic environment. Unlike most reindeer populations, they cannot migrate into sheltered boreal forests and instead remain year-round on exposed mountain ridges and plateaus where snow accumulation is low. Their diet consists entirely of vegetation, especially short-growing lichens and other hardy plants that remain accessible during winter. Their broad, splayed hooves allow them to move efficiently over snow and soft tundra while foraging. By remaining in limited areas and feeding on available low-growing plants, Svalbard reindeer are well adapted to survive long, harsh winters with minimal movement and energy expenditure.

Breeding Cycle

The Svalbard reindeer follows a seasonal pattern adapted to the Arctic environment. Mating occurs in October during the rut, when males compete for access to females using their antlers. After mating, females experience a gestation period of about 227–229 days. Calves are then born in late spring or early summer (usually in May or June), this is when conditions are more favourable as food becomes available. Each female gives birth to a single calf, which is able to stand and follow its mother within an hour of birth. The calf nurses exclusively for about one month and continues to suckle occasionally until winter. Females retain their antlers through winter to defend themselves and their calves, shedding them after the young are weaned, before growing new antlers for the next breeding season.