We visited the Reindeer last year, and liked it so much we went back! We had hoped to ride the Mountain Railway, but it looked cloudy at the top so we left early for home.
The reindeer were adorable! They are not animals for being petted, but most of them are very pushy when the food is being dished out. We each got some in our cupped hands, and the more you narrow the gap between your hands, the longer it takes them to eat the food. We saw the fascinating behaviour of them tapping the tips of their antlers with a back foot. Apparently it stimulates the blood supply and helps them grow. They were in velvet, and start shedding it in late August or early September, ready for the rut.
The calves have a cry that’s a bit like a cross between a pig grunting and a sheep bleating, and we heard plenty of it.
Some of the background in these photos was burnt during the fires of August 2026. I wonder what it will look like next year?
- Shutter speed: 1/4000s
- Aperture: ƒ/8
- ISO: 1600
- Focal length: 55mm
- Camera: PENTAX K-3 Mark III