Lightning and her newborn calf (only a couple hours old)
Born April 22, 2010 @ UAF Reindeer Research Project
On the day before my own birthday, I witnessed the birth of a reindeer. If that's not one of the best presents ever then I don't know what is. The opportunity came along quite by accident. After spending the early afternoon photographing migrating birds at Creamers Field in town and driving around the back roads, I soon found myself on UAF Campus. Driving alongside the enclosures at the Reindeer Research Project, a female reindeer plopped onto the ground on her left side. She swayed her head back and forth several times and was moving her right leg around. She certainly looked uncomfortable enough to be in labor but I really had no idea if this was calving season or not. Sure enough the contractions came on strong and about half an hour later voila a baby reindeer entered the world right before my eyes!
The Mom's name is Lightning and the baby as of yet is unnamed though I did find out it's a boy. This year UAF participated in an Artificial Insemination program for reindeer using frozen/thawed sperm. The donor sperm traveled frozen from Canada to UAF where it was thawed then injected into seven reindeer. Lightning was the only one to carry to full term. This was the first documented birth of a reindeer using this insemination process. A birth that made world agricultural history!
Make that a Double-WooHoo!! Your series of photos on this birth are just breath-taking. I looked at the slideshow twice, and still kept holding my breath. The little mama worked so hard to bring this wee one into the world.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful birthday present- the magic of new life unfolding, living, breathing and walking on its own. Thanks for sharing your precious moments and your amazing photography with us, PJ.
Awww, that is so sweet! That is a magical birthday present! Happy birthday, PJ!
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