The Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) or Caribou in North America, is a species of deer native to Canada, Northern Eurasia and around the Arctic Circle. It is an adoptable animal in both Zoo Tycoon and Zoo Tycoon 2.
Description[]
The Reindeer is a member of the deer family adapted for life in Arctic regions. Native to the northern areas of North America, Northern Europe and Asia, there are many different subspecies of reindeer, typically varying in size. The average reindeer weighs around 182 kg (401 lbs). Reindeer have many adaptations for life in cold climates, including a double-layered coat of fur to maintain their core temperature, large hooves that act as snowshoes and the ability to see ultraviolet light. Uniquely among deer, both male and female reindeer possess antlers.
Reindeer live in large herds and are well known for their mass migrations, with some subspecies covering 400,000 square miles and travelling 5000 kilometers (3000 miles) a year to find food, although other subspecies are more sedentary. During winter months, reindeer feed largely on lichen, but will also eat willow and birch leaves, sedges and grass. Reindeer are the only deer species to have been domesticated by humans and are often used as draught animals or livestock.
Zoo Tycoon[]
The Reindeer is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon, as a downloadable animal. It plays an optional but significant role in the downloadable "Holiday Tree Farm" scenario.
The reindeer is a tundra animal, additionally requiring grass and gray stone in its habitat, as well as trees. Although its preferred tree is the Holiday Tree, it will also tolerate coniferous trees, which include the Western Red Cedar Tree, Yellow Cedar Tree, and Spruce Tree. It also likes all tundra foliage. Reindeer are highly social animals and require at least six animals in their exhibit to be satisfied, they will also occasionally fly around with magic effects when happy; a reference to their link with Santa Claus, which can be seen flying over the zoo during December in his sleigh pulled by his famous reindeer, including Rudolph.
 Animal Facts
|
|---|
| Immortalized as Santa Claus' beasts of burden, reindeer have been domesticated for more than 2000 years. Reindeer live in arctic and sub-arctic regions, predominately in Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Russia, though they have also been introduced in North America. They are well adapted to arctic tundra and the rugged evergreen forest that borders it. The species that reindeer belong to are well-known for their marathon-like migrations, which they undertake to ensure a steady supply of food.
"Caribou" is the North American name for reindeer. Typically, caribou are considered to be wild while reindeer are considered domesticated. There are some anatomical differences between caribou and reindeer, but these are quite minor. Reindeer diets consist mainly of so-called "reindeer moss", though they are opportunistic eaters, and in summer months they also feed on grasses, fungus, various plants and leaves. In zoos where suitable grazing areas are not large enough, many reindeer subsist on hay and grain. Typically, reindeer and caribou thrive in large, nomadic herds. These herds can migrate upwards of 500 miles looking for food. Reindeer and caribou are strong swimmers, due in part to their muscular build, but also because their hooves are shaped to function as strong paddles, and their two-layer coats provide them some measure of buoyancy as well as the insulation needed to survive in very cold temperatures. Reindeer have gained widespread domesticated status, being used as pack animals and farmed for milk, meat, and their hides. There are over 3 million domesticated reindeer spread over northern Eurasia and Alaska. In some parts of the world, particularly arctic regions, whole economies revolve around their reindeer stock. Reindeer are born for speed. A reindeer calf can walk within one hour of birth, and can outrun a human after only one day of development. Fully developed reindeer have keen senses of smell and good hearing, but their sense of sight is not well developed. Reindeer are the only species of deer where both sexes have antlers. They grow new antlers every year. Wolves prey on caribou and reindeer throughout the year, though especially in the winter months. In spring, summer, and fall, reindeer must worry about bears. Calves are susceptible to smaller predators as well; golden eagles have been known to hunt them during the early summer, and lynx are natural predators in the fall when caribou migrate into forested areas. Humans have hunted caribou for many thousands of years. |
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
The Caribou is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon 2 and was made available as part of the Endangered Species expansion pack. In Campaign and Challenge mode, it is one of the first animals obtainable, with a half star rating.
Like the reindeer in the previous game, the caribou is a tundra animal. It is a very easy animal to care for, having the shade structure as its only shelter and the salt lick and scratching post for enrichment. The caribou is a herbivore and only eats Branches or Cycad Leaves.
 zootycoon.com Description
|
|---|
| The caribou is a North American deer of the same species as the reindeer of Eurasia. Both males and females have antlers. Caribou usually live in small herds of cows and calves and a few bulls. The staple diet of caribou is lichens, but they also eat grasses, shrubs, tree shoots, and mushrooms. Plans for oil- and gas-pipeline construction in Alaska and Canada were altered, through environmentalist efforts, so as not to interfere with caribou migration. |
Gallery[]
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
Trivia[]
- The subspecies of caribou in Zoo Tycoon 2 is the Barren-ground Caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus).
- The Caribou in Zoo Tycoon 2 will sometimes rub its antlers on fences to satisfy its hygiene need.
- In Zoo Tycoon, naming a reindeer "Comet" will remove every dinosaur from the player's zoo. This is a reference to the asteroid that caused the non-avian dinosaurs to go extinct 66 million years ago.
- The reindeer is implied to be of the domestic variety in Zoo Tycoon's Animal Facts.
- In Zoo Tycoon, the Spruce Tree gives the reindeer the most habitat suitability out of the foliage, with a higher value if four are stacked in a whole tile. While the Holiday Tree has a higher suitability value than the Spruce Tree, it can only inhabit a single tile and cannot be stacked, losing out on this bonus.
- Additionally a combination of low foliage and rock preferences, alongside a lack of suitable objects, makes it impossible to give the animal a habitat suitability of 100%.