Facts about the Greenlandic reindeer

A reindeer can weigh between 60-140 kg (130-310 lbs) depending on whether it is a bull (male) or a cow (female).

During the summer the reindeer’s coat is brown with a pale breast and belly. During the winter months the coat becomes lighter and has a whitish colour.

Reindeer with large antlers

Within the deer family the reindeer is the only species of deer where the female also has antlers, although the antlers of the male are bigger.

Both bulls and cows shed their antlers every year, but they grow out again during the early summer. When the antlers are developing most rapidly, they can grow by 1 cm (nearly half an inch) a day!

In good circumstances the reindeer cow can give birth to her first calf as a 2-year-old. When born, a calf weighs 4–6 kg (9-13 lbs), but it doubles its weight within the first 10-15 days. This is due to the fat reindeer milk which contains up to three times as much fat as cow’s milk.

The life expectancy of the reindeer is highly dependent on the degree of wear on its teeth and the availability of food during the winter. Reindeer in Greenland normally live to an age of 12-15 years.

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