Blog: A reindeer is for life, not just for Christmas!

At this hot mid-point of the year, Christmas couldn't be further from our minds. However one animal typically only associated with Christmas still deserves our attention. Read our latest blog by Jack Williams, Dudley Zoo and Castle:

Nestled into the wooded hillside of Dudley Zoo & Castle is Bear Ravine, one of twelve art-deco inspired modernist structures designed by the Tecton Group in 1935. The Tecton Group saw the zoo as a microcosm of society and aimed to create striking concrete structures which positioned the animals centre-stage. Throughout the 1940’s and 1950’s brown bears held the starring role, and thousands of visitors looked down onto them from the balconies of the curving structure.

As welfare standards improved, the dens built below the floating balconies of the structure were deemed no longer suitable and Bear Ravine gradually fell into dilapidation. A structure that was designed to be a stage which connected zoo visitors with wildlife, was no longer fit for purpose.

In 2013 a Heritage Lottery funded project allowed Dudley Zoo & Castle to restore Bear Ravine, breathing new life into the Grade II listed structure. No longer suitable for a large carnivore, the zoo repurposed the surrounding area for grazing species and in 2024 the area at the base of Bear Ravine was rebuilt and relandscaped for our herd of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus).  

The new habitat called for new interpretation and as we began to discuss key messages and ‘take-home’ facts I couldn’t help but wonder… if Bear Ravine was designed to be a stage and our reindeer herd is centre-stage, what story will we tell?  

I can’t ignore the obvious. Recognised by millions across the globe as the animal that pulls Santa’s sleigh across the night sky, reindeer have a starring role in Christmas celebrations. The species is incorporated into winter activities and decorations worldwide, with many zoos and wildlife parks partaking in this tradition. In their previous habitat at Dudley Zoo & Castle, our herd of reindeers were often missed – until December came around and suddenly everyone had to pay them a visit! Throughout the grotto season, our education team delivers daily reindeer talks with a microphone in one hand and a shed antler in the other.

What story will our reindeer tell throughout the Spring, Summer and Autumn seasons? Surely our tale doesn’t begin and end in Winter? Well, for many communities in the Northern hemisphere, the reindeer is more than a holiday icon – they’re an integral part of day-to-day life.

It is thought that reindeer were first domesticated 2000-3000 years ago. Since then, they have become a crucial resource for thousands of people, providing meat for food, material for clothing and traction for carrying loads. For the Sámi people – Nothern Europe’s indigenous reindeer herders - reindeer are sacred. The animal is a cornerstone of their culture, and is essential in nearly every aspect of living. The Sámi people have a deep respect for all nature; resources from their environment are used responsibly efficiently, ensuring minimal impact on the ecosystem around them.

As our climate changes, Sámi people's traditional way of life is threatened. In Finnish Sápmi, the average temperature has risen by 2.3°C since the post-industrial period. This shift in conditions manifests in unpredictable snowfall, changes in vegetation and increased extreme weather events. This in turn impacts on Sámi people’s traditional livelihoods, culture and language. For indigenous communities in the Northern hemisphere, reindeer herds and snowfall aren’t a hallmark of the holidays – they’re a part of every day life, which is now threatened due to ever growing pressures on our climate.

Wild reindeer are also impacted by the changing climate. Warmer temperatures are altering vegetation abundance in their natural range, and an increase in rainfall is creating icy layers which further hinder reindeer’s access to food.

Our new reindeer habitat, alongside the unique stage at that is Bear Ravine (now aptly named Reindeer Ravine), provides us with an opportunity to tell an important story about climate change and sustainability. We hope that Bear Ravine will become an area where we can exhibit stories relating to species conservation, climate change, sustainability and indigenous communities. With the help of our 300,000 visitors, alongside multiple other BIAZA zoos and aquariums, we may even be able to steer this story towards a happier ending. 

- Jack Williams (he/him) - Conservation & Development Coordinator, Dudley Zoo & Castle

All blogs reflect the views of their author and are not necessarily a reflection of BIAZA's positions