Reindeer

Native to Eurasia in the Northern Tundra and Arctic areas, reindeer are tan, light gray or reddish brown in color. They are related to and slightly smaller than the Caribou of North America, Greenland and the Arctic and they are estimated to have been domesticated in northern Eurasia 2,000 to 6,000 years ago. Reindeer are herded by many people of the Arctic in northern Europe, Asia and the former Soviet Union and are the most important part of their economy. They are used for food, clothing and shelter. Attempts to introduce herds into Alaska and Canada have failed, since the native people still prefer to hunt the wild caribou rather than tend to herds of reindeer. As with the caribou, reindeer have unique hairs that trap air next to their skin, providing excellent insulation from extreme Arctic temperatures. They are excellent, strong swimmers and are buoyant in water due to these unique hairs. Both male and female reindeer grow antlers and they are the only members of the deer family to do so.