Domestic reindeer
Rangifer tarandus domesticus
The reindeer has always played a central role in Sami culture. In the beginning, wild reindeer were hunted, but over time they were domesticated and used for self-sufficiency.
Today, reindeer herding has developed into an industry primarily focused on meat production — yet the reindeer remains an essential and deeply symbolic part of Sami life and tradition.
About
The reindeer is a domesticated form of the mountain reindeer and is smaller than the forest reindeer. Its coat is usually grey with lighter legs, though the colour varies — some individuals are completely white. In summer, reindeer feed on herbs, grasses, and shrubs, while in winter they primarily eat lichens. Sami reindeer live in herds, just like wild reindeer, and migrate between different areas in search of food.
Today, around 250,000 domesticated reindeer graze freely across northern Sweden. The reindeer is one of the most versatile domesticated animals — alive, it serves as both a draft and pack animal, and females can also be milked. Once slaughtered, it provides meat, horns and bones for crafts, blood, tendons for sewing, hides and leather, and even stomachs once used as containers.
However, the reindeer industry now faces significant challenges. Climate change leads to poorer grazing conditions and increased parasites. Predators take a considerable share of reindeer, and human activities such as mining, road construction, snowmobiles, and hunting disturb their grazing areas and disrupt the calm environment they depend on.
Fact
Scientific name: Rangifer tarandus domesticus
Conservation status: LC (Least Concern)
Size: Shoulder height varies between 90–140 cm, and body length between 120–230 cm.
Weight: Males (called bulls or sarv) 70–150 kg; females (called cows or vaja) 40–100 kg.
Number of young: 1
Conservation status
