"Caribou, also known as reindeer, are animals from the cervidae or deer family. Though the terms ‘caribou’ and ‘reindeer’ are sometimes used interchangeably and do refer to the same species, there is a key difference. ‘Caribou’ describes members of the Rangifer tarandus species living in North America, who migrate long distances annually. ‘Reindeer’ describes wild Rangifer tarandus living in Europe and Asia or domesticated caribou in North America." - International Fund for Animal Welfare: Caribou

Caribou and reindeer: Habitat, diet, and interesting facts | IFAWCaribou, also called reindeer, are an iconic winter animal. Learn more about caribou habitats, diet, threats, behaviour, and more.

Caribou Habitats

"Caribou live in the Arctic tundra and the boreal forests of Greenland, Scandinavia, Russia, Alaska, and Canada. There are two different types of caribou and reindeer—tundra caribou and forest and woodland caribou. Tundra caribou are larger in numbers and migrate between tundras and forests areas every year. They migrate in massive herds that can reach up to 500,000 individuals. "

Forests

Tunrda

Benefits of Caribou

Mitigating Climate Change Impacts

"even though many large herbivores, and especially the megaherbivores, are extinct, there is a potential to reintroduce large herbivores in many arctic locations, and that doing so would potentially reduce some of the unwanted effects of a warmer climate." - Effects of Large Herbivores on Tundra Vegetation in a Changing Climate, and Implications for Rewilding

Caribou Diets

Grasses

Lichen

Trees

Willows

Willow

Sedges

Shrubs

Predators of Caribou

Bears

Lynx

Wolves

Threats to Caribou

"Caribou are classified by the IUCN as Vulnerable (VU). Prior to 2015, they were classified as Least Concern (LC). Caribou have experienced a population decline of 40% over the last three generations (21 to 27 years). The numerous threats contributing to this decline include habit disturbance through human activity, hunting, predation, and climate change." - International Fund for Animal Welfare: Caribou

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Caribou

Introduction