Reindeer & caribou
Arctic caribou and wild reindeer are truly circumpolar animals, linking regions and people around the globe.
Barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus), Churchill, Manitoba
Reindeer & caribou facts
Scientific name
Rangifer tarandus
Weight
65-210 kg, varying by subspecies
Length
1.6 – 2.1 m
IUCN Red List status
Vulnerable
Threats to caribou and reindeer
Climate change
As the Arctic warms, vegetation patterns are shifting. Climate change means different plants in the Arctic, more precipitation, and warmer winters that cover plants with ice instead of snow. Reindeer and caribou will need to adapt their range to the availability of food.
Ineffective land-use planning
Wild reindeer and arctic caribou are migratory, and their habitat crosses territorial and national borders. As the climate changes, and migration patterns shift, it will be increasingly important for governments to implement plans that support wildlife and ecosystems.
Overhunting
Infrequent monitoring of populations means hunting quotas may not be updated quickly enough, increasing pressure on previously healthy populations.
Industrial development
Most herds now have some form of industrial development or exploration proposed on their annual ranges. Industrial development is increasingly viable further and further north.
Caribou, reindeer, and people
Nenets reindeer / Caribou herder’s wife frosted up after a cold day of travelling. Yamal, Siberia, Russia.
A way of life
For thousands of years, reindeer and caribou have provided the basis of life for many cultures through meat and fat, skins for clothing, bedding and tents; sinew for sewing and antlers for tools.
© Staffan Widstrand / WWF
Reindeer in Sweden, Finland and Russia
In Sweden, Finland and Russia, reindeer sustain herding communities that have depended on the animals for income, food and clothing for millenia.
A herd of Barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus) move through a snowy winter landscape on a windy day in Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada.
Canada caribou
In Canada, caribou are an important source of food for northern communities, valued at over \$100 million/year.
