Caribou
Baby caribou born at the Zoo
The Saskatoon Zoo is celebrating the birth of a male caribou calf born to mother Mira on Thursday, June 25, 2026. He weighed 9.4 kilograms at birth and has since grown to 12.8 kilograms.
Mira and her calf are currently receiving behind-the-scenes care while the Zoo’s Animal Care Specialists support this important early bonding period. The pair are expected to begin exploring their habitat this week, and visitors may gradually see Lyall becoming more active while staying close to Mira. Visibility may vary from day to day as staff continue to prioritize the health and comfort of both animals.
The calf has been named Lyall Petrie in honour of Dr. Lyall Petrie, a respected mentor in large animal medicine at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.
Learn More: Zoo Celebrates birth of baby caribou
Risks: Risks to caribous include human development, habitat loss and global warming.
Diet: During the summer, they eat grasses, leaves, mushrooms and flowering plants. In winter, their diet consists of lichen, small shrubs and sedges.
Height: Females 162 to 205 cm (64 to 81in); Males 180 to 214 cm (71 to 84 in)
Weight: Females weigh 80 to 120 kg (180 to 260 lbs) and males weigh 160 to 180 kg (350-400 lbs)
Fun Facts
- Caribou and reindeer are the same species, Rangifer tarandus.
- Caribou and reindeer are perfectly adapted to life in cold climates. Their warm coat has two layers: A dense undercoat of ultra-fine fur and an overcoat of longer, hollow guard hairs.
- Their feet make a “clicking” sound every time they take a step. This noise helps them stay together when visibility in a blizzard or thick fog is poor.
- Caribou use their antlers to find food under the snow and defend themselves.
- Males shed their antlers in November after the breeding season while females shed in May, shortly before calving.
- Antlers are composed of bone, cartilage, fibrous tissue, nerves, blood vessels and skin. The skin, or velvet, sheds once the antlers are done growing.
- Caribou have large, sharp hooves allow them to walk softly on top of the snow (like snowshoes!) and hair between their toes help them gain traction on the ice.
- Caribou and reindeer are the only deer species in which both males and females have antlers.
- An adult reindeer eats an average of 4 to 8 kilograms of vegetation a day.
Each year, the Zoo celebrates World Caribou Day on June 6.
Conservation Initiatives
The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo is proud to support the Caribou Conservation Breeding Foundation of Canada. Learn more at ccbf.ca.