Truth Behind 'Terrifying' Images Of Reindeer With Glow-In-The-Dark Antlers

If someone claimed to have seen a reindeer with glowing antlers, you might think they were making it up or seeing things.

Photos of reindeer with glowing antlers have been spreading widely online, prompting people to wonder: why?

Just to clarify, these images are not the product of edited photos or AI-generated fantasy scenarios like 'reindeer in Tron'.

As strange as it may seem, these images are authentic and have not been manipulated.

That's like something out of a horror movie. AMAZlNGNATURE / X

What in the world is happening with them?

If anyone was worried about a reindeer anglerfish hybrid using glowing antlers to lure prey, rest assured, that's not the case.

Joking aside, this isn't an evolutionary change in reindeer.

So, why are their antlers glowing?

It's not the reindeer themselves, nor is it luminescent bacteria or fungus.

Imagine spotting that late at night. AMAZlNGNATURE / X

The glow comes from paint applied by humans onto the reindeers' antlers. This paint glows in the dark.

You might be wondering how this helps, but not why.

Imagine driving down a dark road at night and unexpectedly encountering a reindeer.

If only there were a way to see them in the pitch-black darkness.

That's when someone came up with the idea to paint their antlers with glow-in-the-dark paint.

AMAZlNGNATURE / X

Painting the antlers rather than the sides of the reindeer ensured visibility from every angle.

Finland's Reindeer Herders Association explained the rationale behind the paint, writing: "The aim is to prevent traffic accidents. The spray is being tested on fur at the moment, but it may be even more effective on the antlers, because they are seen from every side."

Unfortunately, it was found that painting the antlers did not reduce the number of collisions involving reindeer.

Explaining why, they said: "Drivers often mistook reindeer with reflectors for people in the dark, thinking they wouldn't run into the middle of the road when they saw car headlights approaching."

AMAZlNGNATURE / X

They added: "And the deer would tear the reflectors off."