Reindeers on the run in Kielder Forest

Nov 21 2009 The Journal

CHILDREN hoping for a magical meeting with Father Christmas’s reindeer could be left disappointed after the herd made a bid for freedom and ran away.

Reindeer owned by Barbara Murdy, who lives in Kielder Forest with husband Lez, have run away from home and gone native in the forest.

And while three of the four have returned of their own accord the fourth - bull reindeer Jasper – is still at large with little chance of tracking him down.

The four reindeer are affectionate pets and regularly knock on Barbara’s door if she is late coming to feed them. She took them to meet children in Wallsend last year and this year was planning to take them to Housesteads Roman Fort, where Lez works as caretaker, to meet families before Christmas.

But their escapade has put their training back many months and she doubts she can take them to see large crowds of children.

Barbara, who was hoping to breed the reindeer and get some calves, said: “When they went I thought I’d never laugh again, because these creatures have me in stitches. I was in depression when they went.

“When children look at them you can see their mouths drop open and they stare. But adults are the funniest because they always say they’re so small.

“There’s something magical about reindeer. You’re brought up with the stories about them, and when you look at them they’re beautiful.

“We had hired the bull reindeer in the hope we would get little calves – then I would really be able to bring them up and make them people-friendly.

“One came back and I locked her in the barn, and I left the main gate open. Then early in the morning the other two cows were grunting, calling for the one locked up to come and play.