Deer are representatives of the cloven-hoofed mammal family. This family includes fifty-one species. They are common in North and South America, throughout Eurasia. They live in Australia and New Zealand, where they were introduced by humans.
Brief general description
The dimensions of the representatives of deer are very diverse. For example, a pudu deer is the size of a hare, and elk is comparable to the size of a large horse. This family has branched horns that grow only in males. The exception is reindeer. Representatives of its species have horns in males and females. Their deer are dumped annually; over the season they grow again.
Deer among the peoples of the world have great symbolic significance. They are objects of myths and legends. Their image represents nobility, grace, beauty, grandeur and swiftness. In Christianity, a deer is a symbol of purity, piety and seclusion.
Habitat
European reindeer is the only representative of the genus Reindeer.
The habitat of this animal is significant. It is common in the northern part of the Arctic region. Its habitat includes Russia, Mongolia, Eastern Europe, Scandinavian countries.
To date, wild reindeer populations have disappeared from some places of their original habitat, mainly from southern areas. The reason for this was human activity. Large wild herds survived only in Siberia, Alaska, Greenland, Canada. In the Kirov region, the European reindeer has virtually disappeared. Comes here occasionally from the northern regions.
European reindeer: description
This is a medium sized animal. His body is elongated, his neck is long. Due to the fact that it is covered with abundantly long hair, it seems massive and thick. Reindeer legs are short. The head of the animal is usually inclined quite low, so it seems that the deer is hunching.
In the description of the European reindeer, it is necessary to include its aesthetic data. So, animals seem squat, as a result of which their appearance is not as slender and beautiful as that of red deer. This species also lacks grace in movements.
The head of the reindeer is elongated, proportional. It differs by a small height in the region of the brain, gradually tapering towards the end of the muzzle. The nose is covered with solid hair, there is no nasal mirror, the upper lip does not approach the lower lip. The deer's ears are small, rounded, short. The eyes are small. The scruff (withers) is raised, but the hump does not form. The back is straight, the croup is also straight and slightly sloping.
Reindeer females are smaller than males. Their body length is 160–210 cm, while in males these indicators range from 185 cm to 225 cm. The height at the withers of males is up to 140 cm, while in women it is no more than 115 cm. Females weigh from 70 kg to 120 kg, while males can reach a weight of 190-200 kg.
It should be noted that reindeer living in captivity are less than their wild counterparts by body weight by 30%, by size by 20%.
Lifestyle
Northern European deer prefer to live in large herds. It is believed that it’s more effective to fight off enemies and search for food. The number of individuals in the herd can be from a dozen individuals to tens of thousands.
Reindeers living in tundra zones migrate south from the end of autumn to taiga places. There in winter it is easier to get food. It was established that, looking for food during the migration period, they can travel up to 1 thousand km. With the onset of spring time, they move back to the tundra zones.
Reindeer are not afraid of water barriers during migratory movements. Due to the peculiar structure of the wool, they perfectly adhere to the surface of the water.
The main food of the northern European deer is lichen - reindeer moss. This plant is perennial, covers the tundra with carpet year-round. As a result, reindeer have no problems with food. Animals can smell reindeer moss under the snow to a depth of half a meter. In the presence of snow cover their hooves are launched, using them like a shovel when raking snow.
Breeding
Reindeer become sexually mature in their second year of life. Reproduction continues until they reach twenty years of age. However, in most females, by the age of 12, the ovaries degrade. The average life span of a reindeer is about 25 years.
Approximately from mid-September to early October, a deer starts to race within a month. The main sign that this stage is beginning is the creation of mixed herds. Animals by this time dress in a new skin (shedding stops). Horns get rid of velvety deposits and stiffen. At this time, deer fatness is optimal.
The deer male forms harems during the breeding season, which include from three to thirteen females.
Typically, in a group of about 10 individuals, one bull is present. In larger groups there are several males. Bulls compete with each other (butting) only in the presence of females. When they are not, then fights do not occur. Bull fights are symbolic skirmishes reminiscent of ritual ones. They do not cause harm to each other.
Holding the females in the group, the males practically do not eat and lose much weight. At the end of the rut, the body weight of the bulls is twenty percent less than the original. At the same time, they are greatly weakened and become unable to resist those who want to take their place. After the rut, the males separate from the herds and live separately.
Pregnancy in females lasts from 190 to 250 days. One calf is born, the birth of twins is a rarity.
At birth, a deer weighs about 6 kg. Immediately after giving birth, he already gets to his feet and can move after his mother. After only a week of life, the baby can cross the river. Lactation in females lasts 6 months.
Human use of deer
Northern peoples have long learned to tame a European deer. Family affluence is directly dependent on how many domestic deer are. For the people of the North, this animal was unique. For food, they used meat, blood, entrails. Reindeer milk is oily and very nutritious.
The skins of European reindeer are also versatile. The name is covered by housing (yurts, yarangs, plague). They go on tailoring men's and women's winter clothes. The reindeer skin, obtained from its extremities, is very durable, goes to the manufacture of warm and comfortable shoes.
Reindeer and medicine
The horns of these animals are widely used in medicine. An extract of them or a powder is used to treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Preparations that are made from horns have a proven strong immunostimulating effect on the human body. So, pantohematogen is recommended to be taken with significant physical and mental stress.
In the recent past, reindeer were used as horse-drawn vehicles. They transported people efficiently, dragging sleds for long distances along the snow and off-road. With the advent of modern technology (snowmobiles, ATVs, cars, etc.) they are no longer harnessed. However, their owners still have the opportunity to enjoy a reindeer sleigh ride.