Blackpool Zoo welcomes reindeer bull for breeding season

Blackpool Zoo is making preparations for a bumper reindeer baby boom in 2016 after welcoming a male from the country’s largest working reindeer herd.

Buster, the three-year-old bull, has travelled from his home at Blithbury Reindeer Lodge in Staffordshire, to introduce a new bloodline to the zoo.

He will spend the next six weeks in the paddock with Blackpool’s herd of reindeers and after a gestation period of around 230 days, his calves will be born next spring.

Jude Rothwell, Marketing and PR co-ordinator at Blackpool Zoo, said: “We are delighted to welcome Buster to Blackpool during the breeding season for reindeer and we are looking forward to the birth of his calves next year.

“As you can see from the picture, he is a very handsome reindeer and his bloodline will continue here in Blackpool for years to come.

“We would like to thank Blithbury Reindeer Lodge founder, who is also the UK’s leading reindeer expert, Steve Swinnerton, for loaning this magnificent animal to us and we will be working closely with him and his team to keep them updated about the calves born next year.”
Kerry Endsor, Marketing Manager at Blithbury Reindeer Lodge, added: “It is wonderful to be working with Blackpool Zoo on this project and it is great to know that Buster has already settled in well.

“Buster is a very confident bull and shows all the characteristics of a strong breeding male. We are looking forward to hearing from keepers when the calves start being born next year.”
Buster was born in Finland and came to Blithbury Reindeer Lodge as a calf.