They are known for their hardiness and might, and for flourishing in some of the coldest and harshest parts of the world.
But for five-week-old reindeer, Fergus, he has depended on the milk of human kindness to get through the first few precious months of his life.
Staff at the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd centre in Aviemore have taken the unusual step of hand-rearing the calf after his mother died when he was just one-week-old.
It is rare for reindeers to be hand-reared – the last baby the centre had to hand feed was back in 2012.
But without human intervention, Fergus might not have made it.
At first, the orphaned calf was being cared for by staff member, Abigail Saunders, at her Highland home, but now other members of staff are taking it in turns to bottle-feed him.
The herders hope they will soon be able to take the baby to mingle with the rest of the reindeer herd on Cairngorm Mountain, where he will spend his days before returning to the centre at night.
By late summer, he should be able to remain on the mountain with the rest of the herd.
Andi Probert (corr), who is helping to look after Fergus, said he was an incredibly affectionate and friendly addition to their reindeer family.
“Normally, reindeers cope very well on their own, but we were his only option for survival,” she said.
“Thankfully, Fergus won’t remember his mum much, but he still needs someone to care for him.”
Fergus’ mother died when she developed an infection in a valve in her heart. Adult females only ever give birth to one baby at a time, but Fergus has older brothers who he will be able to meet soon.
The centre is home to the UK’s only reindeer herd, which has been roaming freely through the Cairngorms since being introduced to the region in 1952.
Visitors can watch the beautiful animals in their natural habitat, and even get close enough to hand feed and stroke them.
Ms Probert said it was important Fergus joins the rest of the herd soon.
“Because he’s an orphan, and we’re having to provide his milk, he sees humans as the ones who provide his feed – his family in a way,” she said.
“He needs to start living the life of a reindeer and not a human.”