Tilly Smith
The herder shares a lifetime of knowledge about Britain's free-ranging reindeer.
How did reindeer come to be living in the Cairngorms?
The Cairngorms is perfect reindeer habitat. When Swedish Sami Mikel Utsi visited the Highlands in the 1940s, he was surprised that the animals weren’t already here. He and his wife wooed the authorities and the first consignment came in 1952. I suppose it is one of the earliest examples of controlled re-wilding.
How did you come to be a herder?
After my zoology degree in 1981, I came to the Cairngorms as a volunteer. I was swept away by the mountains, the reindeer – and their keeper, Alan Smith. We married in 1983, then in 1989 purchased the herd.
How difficult is your job in winter?
Actually, winter is the easiest time of year. Reindeer are well adapted for Arctic conditions, so require less looking after. They have a lower metabolic rate and reduced appetite, and literally just lie around for hours. So we can put our feet up in the knowledge that they are fine!
What’s been your most challenging experience over the years?
Probably climate change, which has seen an increase in bloodsucking ectoparasites and ticks. These cause illnesses in reindeer similar to Lyme disease in humans. This is something we have learnt to cope with over the past 25 years.
Which individual stands out for you?
The most impressive animals are the breeding bulls, which grow enormous antlers used for fighting in the rut. Crann, born in 2003, bore the biggest ever in the herd. He died an old reindeer, but lives on through his antlers, which are displayed at the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre.
How far do the reindeer range? Do any ever get ‘lost’?
Reindeer are natural wanderers. As long as they are within the mountain environment they usually know where they are. Sometimes individuals have got ‘lost’ – maybe a youngster that has been chased by a dog and become dislocated from the herd. But they turn up eventually – often in time for the rutting season.
How wild are these reindeer?
In Eurasia, reindeer have been extensively domesticated, yet remain living in wild Arctic and subarctic habitats. Our reindeer originated from domesticated reindeer, but need to live in their natural habitat to be able to thrive. So, they are tame, but when left to their own devices, live wild.