Composition : 99.99% Pure Silver
Mintage : 8,500

Marathon Migration

The woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) is the only member of the deer family in which females also grow antlers. Biologists believe it may be due to the intense competition caribou face digging for lichen and other plants. Antlers are grownand shed annually, but pregnant females willlose their antlers later than males, possibly to gain an added reservoir of calcium for their gestating calves.

The caribou's antlers are its most striking characteristic. Male antlers can weigh as much as 15 kg and grow 130 cmlong to give the caribou quite an imposing stature. In reality, the caribou itself is surprisingly small, measuring roughly 140 cm at the shoulder. This shorter, more compact build is believed to be a specialized adaptation to conserve heat and energy in the cold northern climate.

Caribou live in Canada's most isolated regions beyond the 49th parallel. They are categorized into three ecotypes based on specific behaviours and adaptations they have developed living in different habitats. The tundra ecotype reigns as the longest land migrant on Earth, spendingwinter in the boreal forest and moving to the tundra north of the 55th parallel in summer to calve - an astounding roundtrip of 6,000 km per year that beautifully illustrates the vastness that is Canada.
 

THE CARIBOU - 2014 CANADIAN COINS is categorised COINS AND PAPER MONEY / 08- ROYAL CANADIAN MINT / 14- FLORA & FAUNA and sold by l'Imaginaire, a store and specialised website.