Santa’s reindeer might be able to circumnavigate the globe in a night but the real-life animals can clock up some serious mileage with their feet firmly on the ground.
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Reindeer are found in the polar regions of Europe, Siberia and North America, where they are known as caribou.
An early satellite study recorded caribou in Arctic Alaska travelling distances of 5,000km each year, but experts say migratory round trips peak at around 1,200km annually. Distances are getting shorter as herds decline due to habitat changes.
Migratory reindeer spend the summer months in their northern calving grounds, grazing on the tundra.
As winter takes hold they move to the shelter of the forests further south, living on mosses and lichens.
They can reach top speeds of 80kph, and trot at 40kph across challenging terrain.
Scientists studying how reindeer move so efficiently have discovered coordination is key. Reindeer take long strides when travelling uphill, with their wide hoof palms and surrounding bristles providing non-slip support.
On downhill sections they ‘go with the flow’ according to researchers, keeping their stride long to take advantage of gravity and using their hind wrist joints to enhance braking.
