Three Rare White Reindeer Calves Get Ready For Christmas, Joining the UK’s Only Herd

[Rob Thompson]

Old news but nice anyway  

Three Rare White Reindeer Calves Get Ready For Christmas, Joining the UK’s Only Herd

Source   - Good News Network

DATE - Nov 2022

These three adorable white reindeer calves are getting ready for Christmas as the UK’s only herd.

The three babies, named Mr. Whippy, Vanilla, and 99, were born in the summer and are now ready to join the rest of the herd on a tour around the country in the run up to Christmas.

 

During the rest of the year, the free-ranging herd lives at the Cairngorms National Park where the snowy, arctic conditions provide the best vegetation.

The first ones were brought over from Swedish Lapland in 1952 by Mikel Utsi and his wife Dr. Ethel Lindgren as an experiment—and they have grazed the land ever since.

“We’re centrally positioned within the highlands which means we have a more continental climate,” said Tilly Smith, owner of the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre.

“The Cairngorms is ideal for the reindeer. We’re more likely to have cold, snowy, arctic-like conditions.
She said that although the mountains are “vast and impressive“, they’re also “gentle” which suits these less-than-nimble grazers.

“They are beautiful, calming animals,” said Mark Tate of Visit Cairngorms. “They add to the magical winter wonderland feel that really does make winter come to life in the Cairngorms National Park.”

“It’s thanks to the really special environment we have here in the Cairngorms that they’ve thrived and grown.”

[Rob Thompson]

Beautiful animals.

Im a little confused re @The only herd in the UK'

as I know there are quite a lot of reindeer herds in the UK, I wonder if the mean this particular breed?

 

[Santa Timothy SC]

1 hour ago, Rob Thompson said:

Im a little confused re @The only herd in the UK'

as I know there are quite a lot of reindeer herds in the UK, I wonder if the mean this particular breed?

Good question ... I wonder how common or uncommon white reindeer are, beautiful reindeer in any case 

[Santa Shep]

I appreciate the post. They are beautiful to look at!

[Sundblom Santa]

They're so beautiful. Thanks for sharing, Rob.

[Rob Thompson]

14 hours ago, Santa Timothy SC said:

Good question ... I wonder how common or uncommon white reindeer are, beautiful reindeer in any case 

Apparently they are quite rare, its some sort of genetic mutation that removes the colour pigments...just googled it lol    

[Santa SteveKl]

I agree they are beautiful. Thanks for the share!

[Rob Thompson]

2 hours ago, Santa SteveKl said:

I agree they are beautiful. Thanks for the share!

you are very welcome Sir : 

[Grandpa Gus]

Never seen white ones before, that's really something.

[Santa SteveKl]

I did a little research. It seems that there are many herds in the UK, but this is the only free ranging one.

On 8/12/2023 at 11:20 AM, Rob Thompson said:

Old news but nice anyway  

Three Rare White Reindeer Calves Get Ready For Christmas, Joining the UK’s Only Herd

Source   - Good News Network

DATE - Nov 2022

These three adorable white reindeer calves are getting ready for Christmas as the UK’s only herd.

The three babies, named Mr. Whippy, Vanilla, and 99, were born in the summer and are now ready to join the rest of the herd on a tour around the country in the run up to Christmas.

 

During the rest of the year, the free-ranging herd lives at the Cairngorms National Park where the snowy, arctic conditions provide the best vegetation.

The first ones were brought over from Swedish Lapland in 1952 by Mikel Utsi and his wife Dr. Ethel Lindgren as an experiment—and they have grazed the land ever since.

“We’re centrally positioned within the highlands which means we have a more continental climate,” said Tilly Smith, owner of the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre.

“The Cairngorms is ideal for the reindeer. We’re more likely to have cold, snowy, arctic-like conditions.
She said that although the mountains are “vast and impressive“, they’re also “gentle” which suits these less-than-nimble grazers.

“They are beautiful, calming animals,” said Mark Tate of Visit Cairngorms. “They add to the magical winter wonderland feel that really does make winter come to life in the Cairngorms National Park.”

“It’s thanks to the really special environment we have here in the Cairngorms that they’ve thrived and grown.”

 

[Rob Thompson]

4 minutes ago, Santa SteveKl said:

I did a little research. It seems that there are many herds in the UK, but this is the only free ranging one.

 

Im pretty sure the Martingale herd is free range in CUmbria  

[Santa SteveKl]

The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd
The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd is Britain's only free-ranging herd of reindeer found in the Cairngorm mountains in Scotland. These tame and friendly animals are a joy to all who come and see them.

- The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd

- The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd

- The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd

WWW.CAIRNGORMREINDEER.CO.UK

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The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd is Britain's only free-ranging herd of reindeer found in the Cairngorm mountains in Scotland. These tame and friendly animals are a joy to all who come and see them. Reindeer are not just for Christmas! There are currently around 150 reindeer in the herd, mostly ranging on the Cairngorm Mountains with the remainder

 

[Santa SteveKl]

The area you spoke of is one of the areas of this herds range.