Three "beautiful" rare white reindeer calves are getting ready to spread festive cheer this Christmas with a UK-wide tour.
The calves—called Vanilla, Mr Whippy, and 99—were born this summer and are now preparing for their first Christmas as part of the UK's only free-ranging herd of reindeers. The herd lives at the Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands, which provides the snowy and arctic conditions the animals require.
The first reindeer were transported from Swedish Lapland in 1952 by Mikel Utsi and his wife Dr Ethel Lindgren as an experiment, and they have grazed the land since then.
Tilly Smith, owner of the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, said: "The Cairngorms is ideal for the reindeer. We're centrally positioned within the highlands which means we have a more continental climate.
"We're more likely to have cold, snowy, arctic like conditions which provide the best vegetation. Our mountains, although vast and impressive, are also gentle which suits the reindeer as they aren't the most nimble."
Mark Tate, CEO of VisitCairngorms added: "The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd are a firm favourite among our winter visitors and it's easy to see why. They are beautiful, calming animals and add to the magical winter wonderland feel that really does make winter come to life in the Cairngorms National Park.
"Tilly and her team have done a wonderful job nurturing the herd over the years. It's thanks to the really special environment we have here in the Cairngorms that they've thrived and grown."
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