When reindeer roamed our mountains
A packed programme of events has been taking place at Cairngorm Reindeer Centre this weekend to mark the 65th anniversary of the animals being reintroduced to Scotland’s hills. Manager Tilly Smith told Murray Scougall the Honest Truth about the herd’s his
What is your background?
I was a graduate in zoology from the University of Bristol and had a childhood interest in deer. I came to work with the Cairngorm reindeer in June 1981. I fell in love with the scenery, the endearing reindeer and luckily the reindeer keeper wasn’t bad looking, so we married two years later! Why did Mikel Utsi bring reindeer to Scotland?
Mikel recognised the Cairngorms as similar to his homeland, Swedish Lapland, and since reindeer once roamed Scotland he and his wife, Dr Lindgren, wooed the authorities and brought a small group of reindeer over in 1952.
What sort of person was he?
Mikel was born into a Sami family of reindeer herders, one of seven children. He went on to become a restaurant owner as well as herd the family reindeer. He had one son, Vincent, from his first marriage. Prior to 1952, when did reindeer last freely roam in Scotland?
There are stories from the Orkneyinga saga that reindeer were hunted in Caithness and Sutherland by the Vikings 800 years ago.
However there is another more scientific school of thought that suggests reindeer died out about 2000 years ago. What makes the climate of the Cairngorms suitable?
It’s the only Arctic habitat left in Scotland, because of its height and central position in the Highlands. Was the centre always open to the public?
Yes, there has always been a daily 11am visit to the herd. The hill visit is a fantastic way to encounter an animal in its natural environment. What characteristics do reindeer have?
They’re placid animals, very social, living in herds and there are strong family ties. The average life expectancy is about 12 years but the females tend to live longer. Our oldest female is Lilac, who is 18 and a half!
Any unusual reindeer facts?
They grow new antlers every year and the growth period is just five months – during spring and summer. In this time the bull’s antlers can grow to more than a metre long with lots of branches.
They are the only species of deer to be domesticated but the indigenous people who live by reindeer are nomadic because they have to follow the reindeer on the annual migrations. How many reindeer are in the herd?
We have 150 and the calf numbers vary from 15 to 25 per year, depending on our yearly management strategy. How long have the reindeer been touring Britain at Christmas?
The Cairngorm reindeer were used for the first time in the ’50s when Mikel took them to the children’s Christmas party in Aviemore, then for many years the reindeer would visit hotels in the Speyside area.
We now travel all over the UK to do street parades and deliver Santa to his grotto. We have about 50 trained reindeer that perform these duties and each may go out on events five or six times during the season, so they are not overworked. What events do you have planned to mark the 65th anniversary?
We introduced our “adopt a reindeer” scheme in 1990 and we had a programme of events yesterday and today for them to come and visit. Many will see their adopted reindeer. We will do some sleigh training.
It’s a thank you for all the support we have received.