A small group of reindeer caused a stir in central Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland's largest city, on Friday after unexpectedly appearing in the city's core.
Four reindeer were spotted on Pekankatu and in front of the Arctic Light Hotel, drawing excited crowds of tourists and puzzled looks from locals. Several visitors rushed out of nearby restaurants to photograph the animals as they wandered calmly through the street.
Reindeer are not typically seen in Rovaniemi's busiest downtown area, though they are often encountered on the opposite side of the river near Koskipuisto and the beach.
Hanna Nurmi, executive director of the Reindeer Herders' Association, believes the animals likely reached the city centre by crossing a bridge "just like people do".
The Kemijoki river remains unfrozen, she noted, meaning the reindeer could not have walked across ice.
Nurmi viewed the incident with good humour. "Reindeer appearing for tourists to marvel at can be a positive thing," she said.
"Of course, they will find their way eventually, but the herding cooperative will remove them if they become a nuisance."
She added that local herders, who are trained in capturing and handling the animals, can transport them away in a van if necessary.
In Finland, reindeer are semi-nomadic animals that roam freely but are privately owned and managed by local herding cooperatives.
