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You are here: Home / Animals / How Many Wild Reindeer are Left in the World and How many Reindeer have been Domesticated?

How Many Wild Reindeer are Left in the World and How many Reindeer have been Domesticated?

February 15, 2020 by Karen Hill

There are no wild reindeer on earth, but that’s only by a technicality.

caribou in the wild

Reindeer are by definition smaller, domesticated caribou, which means technically that there are no “wild” reindeer in the world.

So what do people do with captive reindeer, you may be wondering? Think of them as an arctic camel.

Their feet are wide and well suited for trudging through the snow and slush, making them the ideal pack animal for anyone who lives north of the tree line.

Like camels and cattle in other parts of the world, they are also used for milk, hide, and meat.

Many northern nomadic tribes in Russia, Mongolia, and Scandinavia tailored their lives around the nomadic rhythms of the reindeer for thousands of years. Some still do.

These extreme northern cultures are under threat of extinction, however, due to international land boundaries and modern technology.

Although some tribal communities continue to do things the old way, from using parts of the reindeer for clothing, tools, shelter, and food to migrating with the roaming herds, it’s also not uncommon today to see parka-clad tribe members on snowmobiles with radios.

Caribou and reindeer numbers have fluctuated historically, but many herds are in decline, and this is linked to climate change and industrial disturbance of caribou habitat.

Related Facts

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  • What is the Difference Between a Caribou and a Reindeer and How Do You Tell Them Apart?
  • What are the Names of Santa’s Eight Reindeer and Why is Donder called Donner in Chrismas Songs?
  • Are caribou the same as reindeer and what is the difference?
  • How did Caribou Get its Name and What does it Mean in Native Indian?
  • Who Were the First Explorers of Ancient Civilization?

Filed Under: Animals

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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