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Police in Russia are taking a cue from Old Saint Nick and are looking at reindeer to help get the job done.

Russian police could soon be using reindeer to help fight crime


Dalia Ibrahim
Digital Reporter

Saturday, December 27, 2014, 5:32 PM - Police in Russia are taking a cue from Old Saint Nick and are looking at reindeer to help get the job done.

Russian newspaper Izvestia reports that police from the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District have been asking for a fleet of reindeer since 2012, and it looks like they are finally getting their wish. 

Officials say the reindeer are a more reliable form of transport than high-tech snowmobiles, with their hooves that can run through deep snow, and cut through ice. 

Some parts of the region are so remote that they're impossible to access, except on reindeer-back. 

Unlike snowmobiles which are prone to breaking down in harsh environments, reindeer hooves can adapt to the seasons: in the summer, when the tundra is soft and wet, the footpads become sponge-like and provide extra traction. In the winter, the pads shrink and tighten, exposing the rim of the hoof, which cuts into the and crusted to keep it from slipping. 

The animals are also able to see UV light, giving them an important advantage in the arctic, where there is little sunlight for months on end.

They've also been known to fly and deliver presents to every child in the world in one single night, so handling some local hooligans should be well within their capabilities.

RELATED VIDEO BELOW: The Science Behind Santa's Reindeer

With files from The Independent

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