Reindeer

Dr. Issac Bott works as a Utah County vet by day, but in his free time, he helps treat and artificially inseminate reindeer around the world, ...

2, Bott visited Utah State University with two of his reindeer — nicknamed Comet and Cupid — for the university’s “Reindeer Express” event. “I have to wear a bulletproof vest and everything when I work with the males,” Bott said. The herd’s newest addition is a young male named Naveen, who was born this year as a product of artificial insemination — and whose sire died in 2011. Bott purchased his own reindeer in 2014, when he first bought the Springville veterinary clinic. They’re called the Sámi people, and they herd those animals and live with them and even ride them.” In 2015, scientists found that the species had experienced a 40% decline over three generations of its population — about 24 years in total, according to the IUCN. And for me, I think that’s the greatest treasure of all is learning and being skilled at a broad base of things.” The two soon decided to embark on the project, and about a year later, Bott delivered the world’s first female reindeer calf through artificial insemination. The animals are more commonly found in Asia and Scandinavia, although their closely-related cousins — ... [They] required lots of follow up care, and I kind of just fell in love with the species starting at that point.” Reindeer are a threatened species, and Bott uses artificial insemination to help prop up the global population and keep domestic herds genetically diverse. Bott started working with reindeer in 2010, after graduating from veterinary school the year prior.