Born Free Renews Call for Reindeer-Free Festive Events Amid Welfare Concerns
Animal welfare organisations are once again urging event organisers to abandon the use of live reindeer in festive displays, arguing the practice causes significant stress and is detrimental to the animals' welfare. This year's campaign, spearheaded by Born Free, Animal Aid, Freedom for Animals, and OneKind, has garnered the support of a record 35 organisations and experts.
A joint letter has been dispatched to dozens of event organisers, highlighting the compromised welfare of reindeer displayed in busy, unnatural environments like town centres, shopping malls, and Christmas markets. The groups are calling for organisers to demonstrate compassion and kindness by choosing animal-free alternatives this festive season.
The renewed campaign follows compelling evidence demonstrating the negative impact of these events on the Arctic-adapted animals. In 2023, the groups highlighted a report recommending that the use of reindeer in entertainment events be ceased entirely.
Further analysis of footage from multiple 2024 reindeer displays, conducted by animal welfare expert Dr. Tayla Hammond, confirmed severe concerns. Dr. Hammond identified that an alarming 75% of the reindeer displayed clear indicators of stress, such as trembling or avoidance behaviour.
The inherent pressures of festive events which include regular long-distance travel, exposure to loud, unfamiliar crowds, physical labour like pulling sleighs, and confinement to small pens are cited as major factors leading to severe risk of physical and mental stress, fatigue, and associated illnesses. Veterinarians consistently note that reindeer are difficult to maintain in captivity, with issues such as:
Poor body weight and weight loss
Muscle atrophy
General malaise
Despite the ongoing challenges, the welfare groups are celebrating a growing trend of event organisers choosing compassionate alternatives.
Last year, 218 events that had previously used live animals hosted successful, fun, and family-friendly animal-free celebrations instead.
Of the event organisers who received the joint letter in 2023, a significant 35% committed to going reindeer-free in 2024.
Early results for 2025 are already promising, with two major events that previously displayed live reindeer for years choosing compassionate alternatives.
These successful alternatives include creative options such as VR sleigh rides, animatronic displays, and 'reindeer runs' where people in costume raise funds for charity.
Take Action: Is an Event Near You Using Live Reindeer?
The campaign partners are urging the public to take action to help end the use of live reindeer in Christmas events.
Check the Map: The Freedom for Animals website features an interactive map showing known events planning to use live reindeer (marked in red). Clicking on a marker reveals the organisers' contact details, allowing concerned individuals to politely ask them to choose an animal-free event. When an organiser commits to going reindeer-free, the marker is turned green.
Report an Event: If you are aware of an event using live reindeer that is not yet on the map, you can report it via the 'Raise the Red Flag' online form.
www.bornfree.org.uk/news/born-free-renews-call-for-reindeer-free-festive-events/#map
The message from the organisations is clear: Christmas is a time for compassion, and that should extend to all animals.
You can find out more about the campaign and ways to take action by visiting the websites of the leading organisations: Born Free Foundation, Animal Aid, Freedom for Animals, and OneKind.
