Thousands of reindeer were filmed during their annual spring migration in the Arctic — and it's an unbelievable sight to watch them move in such a large group!
From a distance it's almost impossible to tell that it's a swarm of reindeers on their way to a different territory. (It's just as shocking to watch as the massive flock of birds that paint the sky black!) Yet, this is a common occurrence that happens twice a year.
Reindeer, also referred to as caribou, migrate between summer and winter months. Some of the reindeer herds can even travel hundreds of miles to get to where they are going. For example, the Porcupine caribou herd can travel about 400 miles when they migrate in a group of around 169,000 animals. How crazy is that?! Smaller herds, like the Central Arctic herd, travel about 120 miles with a group of about 70,000.
"Their summer range provides nutritious food that helps the new calves and the other caribou grow healthy and fat before winter. But the summer range is a harsh and windy place during winter, so the caribou move to a winter range where conditions (weather, food, snow cover) are more agreeable," according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Watch below and please SHARE if you're in awe over this reindeer migration!
Large Reindeer Herd in the Arctic
This is what reindeer do in spring in the Arctic
Posted by The Weather Channel on Tuesday, April 5, 2016
