THE Cairngorm Reindeer Herd has secured a coronavirus Bounce Back Loan from the UK Government.
The herd consists of more than 150 free-range reindeer that live and roam across the Cairngorm mountains and on the nearby Glenlivet Estate.
The herd were introduced to the Cairngorms in 1952 by husband and wife duo Mikel Utsi and Ethel Lindgren before being taken over by Tilly Smith and her husband, Alan, in 1989.
The Smiths have built a visitors’ centre, shop, and paddock to create a tourist attraction centred on the reindeer.
Tilly Smith, director of Cairngorm Reindeer Herd, said: “In a normal December, our reindeer would be busy pulling sleighs across the UK and making Christmas magical for local communities.
“But because we’ve had to put a stop to these visits, a huge part of our income has been lost.
“We’ve managed to keep going and our number one priority will always be to look after our herd.
“Thanks to the support from Bank of Scotland, we now have the safety net of additional income to help with overheads as we continue to promote our adoption programme, which is now in its 30th year.
“The support so far from the public has been overwhelming and we hope people continue to help us by adopting a reindeer while we work towards welcoming everyone back in the future.”
Scott Robertson, relationship manager at Bank of Scotland, which supplied the loan, said: “Cairngorm Reindeer Herd is a perfect example of the more unusual and seasonal businesses that will be directly affected by the pandemic.
“It’s encouraging to see the firm using other revenue streams to diversify and continue trading until normal operations recommence.
“We’ve worked with the team at Cairngorm Reindeer Herd for a long time, and I’m looking forward to when we’re able to meet again in person and see the great work they do with the herd.”
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