Herd study will explore reindeer behaviour
REINDEER behaviour in the country’s only free-ranging herd is to be studied in a bid to understand the animals’ impact on the Cairngorms National Park.
It is hoped the new research programme, which is being lead by Inverness College, will investigate the ecological role reindeer play in the Cairngorms, focussing on their movements, behaviour and diet.
It is hoped the findings will help ensure sustainable reindeer tourism in the area into the future,
Dr Louise de Raad, the principal investigator and project manager, said: "The Cairngorms National Park contains some of the finest forests and mountain habitats in Britain and the Park Authority is 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."
As part of the behavioural tracking study, Dr de Raad will fit GPS collars equipped with cameras and accelerometer technology to a sample of reindeer within the 150-strong herd.
Researchers at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh will carry out a dietary study to get a better idea of their seasonal diet. The programme will also explore perceptions and attitudes towards the free-ranging reindeer in the national park, and assess their economic contribution to the area and their cultural value as part of the landscape.
The study will lead to recommendations to enable sustainable reindeer management and the protection and expansion of designated habitats in the Cairngorms National Park.
As well as the college, the programme will feature input from the national park authority, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Natural Heritage, Forest Enterprise Scotland and the Reindeer Company, which owns the herd.
