Skip to content

Reindeer born at Aldergrove Zoo

18926tulipsc

The Greater Vancouver Zoo has welcomed the birth of its first reindeer on April 8.

“I am always really excited about new additions to the zoo family, but this time it is extra special as this is a first reindeer born at the Zoo,” said Craig Melen, animal keeper for the North American species.

She was born prematurely and it was very nerve wracking in the beginning as she was having a hard time getting up and nursing. Zoo staff thought they were going to have to intervene, although the first time mom, Moxie, is proving to be a good mom.

Reindeer also known as caribou are a medium sized member of the deer family. There are found in the northern regions of North America, Europe, Asia and Greenland.

One of the unique features of the reindeer is that most females and males carry antlers.

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species lists the Caribou as “Least Concern”. As always there are numerous reasons for the decline in the Caribou population including habitat loss, human disturbance, predator access, altered predator-prey dynamics and small population effects.