Reindeer

The reindeer is naturally distributed across the northern regions of Europe, Asia, and North America, where it inhabits tundra and northern forests. The species exists in both wild and domesticated forms. Wild populations are found in Greenland, Canada, Alaska, and southern Norway, while domesticated reindeer are primarily herded in large parts of northern Scandinavia and Russia by Indigenous peoples such as the Sámi.

In Finland, a special wild form of reindeer called the forest reindeer also exists. Unlike the tundra reindeer, which roams open landscapes in large herds, the forest reindeer prefers dense woodland and tends to move in smaller, more scattered groups. It is considered a distinct subspecies and is classified as vulnerable in much of its range.

Most reindeer in Scandinavia are domesticated, but Norway still has a wild population in mountainous areas such as Dovrefjell and Rondane. Reindeer are known for their seasonal migrations and often cover vast distances between summer and winter grazing grounds.