 |
| Rudolph the Reindeer, on summer vacation in Alaska. |
Rare Sighting Of Elusive Reindeer Species; Joins Sasquatch and Loch Ness Monster
The Alaska Department of Fish & Game has officially catalogued Santa's reindeer as one of Alaska's eight species of caribou. (For the record, reindeer and caribou are identical animals -- except that reindeer are domesticated. )
The elusive 8th species of this sleek, antlered ungulate, called R.t. saintnicolus magicalus, is very difficult to view. Even in Denali National Park, where caribou, moose, wolves, coyotes, sheep and grizzlies all jockey for position in front of tourists' cameras (and march up and down the Denali Park Road in large groups) Santa's reindeer are rarely if ever seen.
On December 11th, 2013 Fish & Game released a photograph that they officially claimed was the only known picture of Rudolph. Like all photos of disputed creatures -- Sasquatch, Bigfoot, E.T. Yeti, and the Loch Ness Monster -- the photo was blurry. Fish & Game did not reveal if the photo had been digitally enhanced in any way.
The Department says that this species of Alaska caribou is not on the endangered list, primarily due to the fact that Santa's reindeer never die. However, even extreme longevity has its drawbacks.
Life can be hard on these reindeer. In addition to being plagued by endless cycles of black flies and a relentless work schedule that's piled on them all at once, Santa's reindeer, and particular Rudolph, is laughed at, and called names. And we don't mean saintnicolus magicalus.
For complete information on this Alaskan mammal, please see the ADF&G website:
Other Strange Creatures That Don't Live In Alaska
 |
| Big Foot |
 |
| Loch Ness Monster |