Reindeer stroll through downtown Rovaniemi, delighting tourists

Reindeer don’t usually venture into Rovaniemi’s busiest downtown area, though they are often encountered on the other side of the river.

A small group of reindeer caused a stir in central Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland’s largest city, on Friday after unexpectedly appearing in the city’s core.

Four reindeer were spotted on Pekankatu and in front of the Arctic Light Hotel, drawing excited crowds of tourists and puzzled looks from locals. Several visitors rushed out of nearby restaurants to photograph the animals as they wandered calmly through the street.

Reindeer are not typically seen in Rovaniemi’s busiest downtown area, though they are often encountered on the opposite side of the river near Koskipuisto and the beach.

Hanna Nurmi, executive director of the Reindeer Herders’ Association, believes the animals likely reached the city centre by crossing a bridge “just like people do”.

The Kemijoki river remains unfrozen, she noted, meaning the reindeer could not have walked across ice.

Nurmi viewed the incident with good humour. “Reindeer appearing for tourists to marvel at can be a positive thing,” she said.

“Of course, they will find their way eventually, but the herding cooperative will remove them if they become a nuisance.”

She added that local herders, who are trained in capturing and handling the animals, can transport them away in a van if necessary.

In Finland, reindeer are semi-nomadic animals that roam freely but are privately owned and managed by local herding cooperatives.

Related stories from around the North: 

Canada: Arctic hare breaks all records by travelling almost 400 km, Eye on the Arctic

Finland: Possible record year for arctic fox in Nordics with 762 cubs counted in 2022, Eye on the Arctic

Russia: Polar bears take over abandoned research station in Russian Arctic, Reuters

United States: Alaska firefighters help rescue a moose trapped in a home, The Associated Press