Reindeer Review: Christmas 2024

With your help, our joint campaign to end the cruel use of live reindeer at UK events and call for a more compassionate Christmas continued to make positive strides. 

A woman leaning into a pen to take a photo of a reindeer at a festive event.

(c) © SouthEastern Star, Flickr creative commons

2024 marked the third year in which Born Free and our colleagues at Animal Aid, Freedom for Animals and OneKind came together to monitor advertised festive reindeer events and call on organisers to pledge not to use live reindeer or other wild animals. 

During the festive season, reindeer are often utilised at Christmas events, markets and parades. This is despite a range of welfare issues that the animals experience when used in such events.

In total, 21 animal protection groups signed an open letter to 295 event organisers who have either used reindeer in the past or planned to use reindeer last Christmas, calling on them to cease using live reindeer in the run-up to Christmas 2024, and at any future festive events.

Along with the letters to event organisers, we also called on supporters to report the use of reindeer at events local to them. This helped us map the events, record which went ahead and which were cancelled, and provide information to our supporters enabling them to lodge their concerns with event organisers.

 

With the growth of our monitoring network and the help of our supporters, Born Free and its partners identified 160 festive events which used live reindeer in 2024. However, there is reason for optimism.

“Of the events which used reindeer in 2023 and received our joint letter last year, 43 (35%) were animal-free in 2024, including seven events which cancelled their advertised use of reindeer due to public opposition,” explained Born Free’s delighted Captivity Research & Policy Manager Chris Lewis. “In total, 209 festive events which we know have used reindeer or other live animals between 2018 and 2023 are now animal-free.

“We would like to extend a huge thanks to all our supporters who helped with our 2024 campaign, along with our partners at Animal Aid, Freedom for Animals and OneKind.”

Sadly, for the reindeer that did feature in Christmas events, evidence obtained by Born Free and its partners highlighted concerning welfare issues.

Dr Tayla Hammond, an expert in animal welfare and behaviour who reviewed the footage, confirmed the presence of numerous welfare issues including:

  • 75% of reindeer displayed stress indicators, such as trembling or avoidance.
  • Space provided for reindeer was considerably restricted at 87.5% of events.
  • Handlers often physically held reindeer in place, forcing interactions with the public and limiting their agency.

Additionally, of the reindeer events we monitored last year, they took place on average 73.5 miles away from the reindeer supplier’s base location, highlighting the large distances these animals are being transported each year. This is particularly concerning for those animals who are forced to attend multiple events.

Chris continued, “Reindeer are recognised as sentient beings under UK law that can experience joy but also fear and pain. The findings from last Christmas demonstrate that a time of celebration for humans can be filled with fear and pain for reindeer at festive events. We urge event organisers to make the progressive decision to join the 200+ events which no longer feature reindeer and instead adopt fun activities for all the family that do not involve animal exploitation.”

Born Free is calling on the UK government, Scottish Parliament, and Welsh Parliament to introduce a prohibition on the use of wild animals in mobile exhibitions and performances, and for the public and event organisers to pledge their support by boycotting events or facilities which promote this type of entertainment. 


YOU CAN HELP

If you are concerned for the welfare of captive wild animals you see at a mobile event, please report your concerns to us via our Raise the Red Flag page.

RAISE THE RED FLAG