Merry Christmas! That they are all wild, and can walk 5000 km in a year? I hope conditions improve in the Arctic, too. It would be very sad if the weight loss affects the survival of the Svalbard reindeer and very worrying if the problem also affects other subspecies of this iconic animal. Let's hope temperatures take a nose dive the coming decades. Males are bigger than females and have larger antlers. Hi! These kinds of winter storms on Norway’s Svalbard archipelago can cause a thick cap of ice to cover the forage that reindeer eat. Nevertheless, the correlation in this case could be significant. Quite impossible to believe that such extraordinary life is spontaneous evolution. The situation for polar bears is worrying. Bjoertvedt, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 License. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear. People may be familiar with Svalbard for its role in Northern Lights, a fantasy book for young adults written by Philip Pullman. N. J. C. Tyler. The town is located on the largest island of the archipelago, which is named Spitsbergen. In October, the reindeer gather in larger groups for mating. Some of the females in a particular population may not develop antlers, however. These items include lichens (an important winter food), urine from potential predators or competitors, and the white fur of wolves, which sometimes attack reindeer. Corresponding Author. As part of her heroic exploits, she travels to Svalbard to find her kidnapped uncle, who she eventually discovers is really her father. Svalbard is a breeding ground for many seabirds, and also features polar bears, reindeer, the Arctic fox, and certain marine mammals. I had never heard of this before. Male reindeer grow their antlers from April to July, shed the bast in August and September and finally the antlers in late autumn, after the breeding season. Reindeer are an iconic species. Our mum, Mila, is a Greenland dog, and she used to live in Norway, before she moved to Svalbard. I hope that we can help them, too. The future is of great concern, especially in the Arctic. They are the only mammals that can see ultraviolet light (as far as we know). The animals in question are found on an archipelago known as Svalbard, which is part of Norway. photo credit: Carl Erik Kilander Svalbard reindeer Baby calf Svalbard reindeer A Svalbard reindeer mother staying close to her calf. I was saddened but not surprised about the rising temps and loss of ice in the Barents Sea and Kara Sea to the east of Svalbard and the rest of the Arctic. Historically, the usual temperature has been around -6.7°C. 5 out of 5 stars (389) 389 reviews $ 3.54. This freezes on top of the snow and prevents the reindeer from reaching food. I agree—the reindeer are beautiful creatures. of Cambridge Physiological Laboratory, Downing St., Cambridge, England. The temperature in the afternoon was 21.2 degrees Celsius, or 70.2 degrees Fahrenheit, which was the second-highest temperature ever recorded. We simply love our “wondeerful” neighbours! There are many variables involved in the climate problem in Svalbard and many questions that can't be answered yet. Svalbard doesn't have as cold a climate as might be expected at its latitude. The tale is set in a parallel universe. There are still huge areas in the Barents Sea and Kara Sea to the east of Svalbard that are free of ice. During the nursing period (about three months), Svalbard reindeer calves grow from about 3 kg (6.6 pounds) to about 10 kg (22 pounds) when weaned. Description: The Svalbard reindeer (or Spitsbergen reindeer) is the only reindeer species in Svalbard. Some of the report's specific predictions included increasing air and water temperature, a shorter snow season, and increased rainfall. Hi, Marlene. The pads on the bottom of the hooves change their features in summer and in winter in order to provide the best traction. Svalbard’s Rudolf is sweet-faced and stubby-legged, and is actually a very interesting animal. The Svalbard reindeer, endemic to the archipelago, is considered a special responsibility by Norwegian scientists because it is a key species that is vitally important to the ecosystem of the tundra. The situation in Svalbard and in the rest of the Arctic needs to be monitored carefully, for the sake of both the reindeer and humans. Seven national parks and twenty-three nature reserves cover two-thirds of the archipelago, protecting the largely untouched, yet fragile, natural environment. Locals find themselves enjoying their morning coffee while watching the wild reindeer grassing just outside of the window. Researchers have studied the Svalbard reindeer since 1994. According to the Norwegian Polar Institute, females have an average weight of about 53 kg in spring and 70 kg in the autumn. Explore {{searchView.params.phrase}} by color family Why don't Svalbard reindeer migrate? From shop DaisyDoodleDesignsUK. Thanks for the visit, aesta1. Because of Svalbard, Norway is included among the 5 countries that are jointly tasked to address the issue of polar bear conservation (USA, Canada, Russia, and Denmark due Greenland are other four). The researchers are worried that even though a population of small animals may do okay for a while, eventually there will be so much ice on the ground during winter that Svalbard reindeer will experience a dangerous population decline. They are interesting animals. The reindeer often look stocky—and sometimes fat—and have short legs. They belong to different subspecies within the species tarandus, however. The lights. Now, I know a bit about them when I see them displayed as decors. Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on December 22, 2016: Hi, truthfornow. I love your wit and humour! Svalbard Reindeer - urban and wild! Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on May 16, 2020: Thanks for educating us about Svalbard reindeer facts and the conditions that may affect their longevity. The situation there is worrying. National Geographic Channel Video: Arctic Bird Attack Though they have fat deposits at the start of winter, their winter food is important for their survival. Hope that we are able to help save and protect these beautiful animals. Baby reindeer svg bambi svg distressed christmas svg cute Christmas shirt cut file svg cute rudolf shirt cricut red nose holiday shirt DaisyDoodleDesignsUK. Merry Christmas! Another potential problem is that some plant species may grow abundantly in the warmer climate and crowd out species that are useful for the reindeer. Climate change is increasing the likelihood of extreme winter rain events in the Arctic. In summer, the animals spend their time in small groups of three to five animals. I think that some of them look like Christmas reindeer, too. Climate change is certainly very worrying. You’ll often find them wandering right through Longyearbyen or lazily strolling along in the middle of the road, sometimes causing frustration on the part of drivers who simply have to wait until the reindeer have passed. Mary Norton from Ontario, Canada on December 23, 2016: They remind me of the Christmas reindeer. Nithya Venkat from Dubai on December 20, 2016: Great information on the Svalbard Reindeer. Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on January 22, 2017: Thank you! They should normally be ice-covered. It should be noted that these values may not be accurate today, however. The Svalbard reindeer are magnificent animals. BODYLEVIVE from Alabama, USA on January 22, 2017: It is indeed a beautiful creature. Ominously, on July 25th, 2020, the highest-ever temperature was recorded in Svalbard. They spend almost all of their time eating in order to put on enough fat to help them survive the cold winter. Large groups of animals may also gather on a good feeding ground in winter. The lights have arrived. Therefore it's highly likely that Santa's reindeer are female, since all of the animals pulling his sleigh bear antlers. Additionally they’ve got a thick and bright fur in the wintertime that could make even the tiniest of reindeer seem thick and fluffy. Buildreps from Europe on December 20, 2016: Interesting facts. In North America the book is known as The Golden Compass. Somebody up there must have designed all creatures in detail, I'm sure! Some reindeer migrate in the spring. Pregnancy lasts about seven months, and a single calf may be born to each pregnant female in June. The islands in the archipelago are known for their expanses of untouched nature. In summer, the fur is generally brown on the back and grey on the rest of the body. You’d think that more frequent rain-on-snow events would spell the end for these arctic animals — but you’d be wrong. In a snowy valley on the island of Spitsbergen, 500 miles north of mainland Norway, a reindeer is getting a pregnancy test. There may be another factor at work. Like you, I hope the reindeer continue to survive in spite of the problems that they face. Global warming is affecting all the species in this world. The body mass of males is approximately 65 kg in spring and 90 kg in autumn, while female body mass is approximately 53 kg in spring and 70 kg in autumn. Interesting facts about reindeer, especially the tidbit about the antlers and how it is probable that Santa’s reindeer were all female because of how the antlers grow and are shed. Suhail Zubaid aka Clark Kent from Mississauga, ON on December 24, 2016: Thank you for writing an article on an area of my interest - wildlife and environment conservation - if I may. Svalbard’s reindeer are resilient, however. Unfortunately, some real-life reindeer are showing signs of a potential problem at the moment. But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer. I'm in awe! Martie Coetser from South Africa on December 23, 2016: What a very interesting hub about reindeer! This is probably as close as it'll get for me. The warmer temperatures in Svalbard mean that sometimes winter precipitation falls as rain. Our names are Karl and Berit and we are still puppies! Continued warming may cause more population crashes and a higher risk of extinction Unlike the reindeer on Norway's Svalbard archipelago, Svalbard reindeer … One individual is known to have reached seventeen years of age, however. September, Restaurant Rijpsburg and Icebreaker Bar Krasin, The Northern Lights forecast for Svalbard. From shop ReindeerSpirit. The head is smaller in proportion to the body than in other reindeer and is also more rounded. 5 out of 5 stars (12) 12 reviews. The Svalbard reindeer is a subspecies of the reindeer and can only be located on Svalbard. Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 16, 2020: Thanks for the comment, Peggy. The researchers say that 50 kg is a critical weight for females, however. The size of the animals is decreasing. I didn't know reindeer can see UV light. If the temperature continues to rise and the amount of ice on the ground in the winter increases, there may be serious or even catastrophic die-offs in the population due to winter starvation. Kids' & Baby Bags & Purses Women's Clothing ... Needle Felt Svalbard Reindeer ReindeerSpirit. Male Svalbard reindeer begin the development of their antlers in April and drop them in November or occasionally in early December before Christmas arrives. They populated the islands long before humans set foot there in the 16th century, the researchers say. The reindeer often look stocky—and sometimes fat—and have short legs. Svalbard reindeer are quite sedentary, however. Reindeer shrinking in warming world from the ScienceDaily news service Retrieved from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161212084646.htm, The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) classifies the population of. Thank you for commenting. Svalbard reindeer mother and her calf, most likely 1-2 weeks old. The fat appearance is sometimes due to the presence of thick fur instead of excess body fat, although the animals do put on weight before the winter season. Reindeer were hunted very heavily on Svalbard from 1860 to 1925, and the population was markedly reduced. The Svalbard reindeer have no natural predators in Svalbard, and as a result they’re not particularly afraid of humans or other animals. Did you know that there are about 10 000 Svalbard reindeer in total? After all, without his trusty reindeer pulling his sleigh, Santa couldn't deliver his presents. The cold, wonderful season: You simply “must” experience winter in Svalbard! The reindeer has a variable appearance depending on its colour, body weight and the presence, absence, or developmental stage of the antlers. I hope its population does well in the future. The researchers found more than 200 reindeer starved to death on the Norwegian archipelago, an unusually high number for the region. Great job, loved the facts--very interesting and really enjoyed the read. The increased temperatures at this time produce extra plant matter that enables female reindeer to increase in weight relatively quickly. The female Svalbard reindeer is an excellent candidate for the identity of Santa's helpers. More About Svalbard’s Birds. Reindeer and North American caribou are closely related. Similar Images . Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on December 26, 2016: Thanks for adding this information, Suhail. In winter, the entire body often appears grey or even white. And today, they can be found in the harshest corners of Svalbard, Le Moullec says. The lead researcher in the reindeer study thinks that several factors are involved in the decreasing weight of the animals as the temperature rises, as described below. Both sexes have antlers, but those of the males are bigger. Find out more here. Browse 3,560 reindeer antlers stock photos and images available, or search for reindeer antlers vector or reindeer antlers headband to find more great stock photos and pictures. Perhols, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 License. Males are bigger than females and have an average weight of around 65 kg in the spring and 90 kg in the autumn. Skip to ... (and his baby grand) ... Reindeer grazing in the advent valley - Adventdalen in Svalbard. Research Group in Mammalian Ecology and Reproduction, Univ. The hunt was stopped except for scientific sampling between 1925 and 1983. Most animals live for about ten years.
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