Reindeer and caribou undertake the longest land migrations on Earth, and their welfare is increasingly threatened by climate change, industrial development, and habitat fragmentation.
Reindeer and caribou welfare is deeply intertwined with climate stability and habitat integrity. Ice-crust events from freeze-thaw cycles prevent access to lichen — their primary winter food — causing prolonged starvation and mass mortality. Summer insect harassment is genuinely distressing; in severe years, reindeer spend most of their energy fleeing insects rather than feeding, leading to poor body condition. Industrial infrastructure forces detours from ancient migration routes, increasing energy expenditure and exposing animals to predation. As Arctic temperatures rise far faster than the global average, these welfare challenges are accelerating. Strong climate action and protection of migration corridors are the highest-impact interventions.