EXACTLY what do reindeer get up to as they prepare for their busiest night of the year?
Researchers at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) are trying to find out by fitting them with cutting-edge GPS camera collars as part of a new research programme designed to inform future sustainable reindeer tourism in the Cairngorms National Park. Inverness College UHI is leading on the multi-agency Cairngorms Reindeer Research Programme, investigating the ecological role reindeer play in the area, focussing on their movements, behaviour and diet, as well as finding out how people regard reindeer.
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Dr Louise de Raad, Inverness College UHI research fellow and principal investigator on the programme, said: “The Cairngorms National Park contains some of the finest forests and mountain habitats in Britain and landowners are seeking to maximise the restoration and expansion of these areas. We know the reindeer are a key visitor attraction, but despite being present for more than 60 years we know very little about their impact on the area.
“Studying their feeding and ranging behaviour will be a first step towards understanding their impact and this will help us make recommendations to ensure that the herd is managed sustainably and continues to make a positive contribution to the area.”
The first phase of the programme has finished with the GPS camera collars tested on two reindeer, and the second phase will start in April, once the animals’ festive schedule is complete.
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