Reindeer are renowned for their extraordinary ability to guide Santa’s sleigh across the globe, but what about their earthbound relatives who endure the harsh Arctic winter? Recent research has unveiled their remarkable strategy for enduring the summer months.

In the brief Arctic summer, reindeer must forage incessantly to amass fat reserves for the long, dark winter when food is scarce. However, Neuroscientist Melanie Furrer from the University of Zurich and her team have discovered that despite the summer feasting, reindeer actually maintain the same sleeping patterns throughout the year. The astonishing revelation is that they sleep while ruminating and chewing their cud to save time during the summer.

By monitoring the reindeer’s brain activity, researchers found that the animals are capable of resting while chewing their cud. The repetitive process of rumination actually provides the mental benefits of sleep. These findings were based on non-invasive electroencephalography (EEG) brainwave imaging on female Eurasian tundra reindeer in Norway. The results indicated that the more time reindeer spent ruminating, the more well-rested they were.

The study also unveiled that when ruminating, the reindeer exhibited behaviours akin to those during sleep. They stood or sat quietly and did not react to disturbances, much like when they are asleep. This led the research team to discover that ruminating also yielded the same rested feeling that comes after sleeping, leaving the animals not feeling tired like they would if they were kept awake.

This incredible ability is an adaptation that allows reindeer to fatten up without the need for frequent slumber. And it’s not just reindeer who adjust their sleeping habits to extreme polar environments. Other animals like Arctic ground squirrels and nesting chinstrap penguins also have unique ways of resting and sleeping.

The findings from this study have also highlighted the importance of allowing reindeer to ruminate peacefully. It has been shown to be crucial not just for digestion, but also for brain recovery. So, the next time you spot Santa’s reindeer soaring through the sky, remember that they have an incredible survival strategy to keep them ready for the festive season!