About Reindeer Husbandry - Why do reindeer gather in herds?
Tuesday, 15 September 2009 17:13
Article Index
About Reindeer Husbandry
What is reindeer herding?
What is the difference between reindeer herding and reindeer husbandry?
Who conducts reindeer herding?
How long has reindeer herding existed?
How is reindeer herding organized?
What kind of challenges does reindeer herding face?
Why do most reindeer herders say that they could not think of other way of living?
Is reindeer herding a threatened lifestyle?
Are reindeer threatened?
What biological characteristics specific to the reindeer?
What is a wild reindeer?
How long do reindeer live?
What do reindeers eat?
Why do reindeer gather in herds?
How will climate change affect reindeer herding?
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Page 15 of 16
Why do reindeer gather in herds?

Reindeer are gathered in herds for certain purposes in different seasons, as for marking of calves, slaughtering and dividing in winter groups/siidas. Nowadays in Scandinavia, it is common for reindeer herders use assistive technologies, such as motorcycles, snow scooters and even helicopters in their gathering work. In many areas in Russia, however, access to technical aids has actually been reduced over the last 15 years. Many herding peoples in Russia still have limited use of such technologies and migrations are undertaken much the way they have been for centuries – walking with the reindeer, riding reindeer (in some areas), using dogs and using harnessing reindeer to sledges.