Svalbard reindeer

Description:

The Svalbard Reindeer are a small subspecies of the Reindeer. They are well adapted to the polar climate of Svalbard with their thick fur and short stubby legs. Unlike the majority of Reindeer on the Norwegian mainland the Svalbard Reindeer have not been domesticated, and do not live in groups but tend to be solitary.

Habitat:

These reindeer are endemic to Svalbard/Spitsbergen only.

Notes:

This is a male, he was not very scared of humans (as indicated by the relaxed posture in the picture). In fact, during hunting season individuals tend to migrate into Longyearbyen where they cannot be hunted, quite an interesting adaptation as it requires moving closer to people.