'Love at first sight' for lonely Hedon reindeer Sven

Sven the reindeer, who lives at Little Haven Farm in Hedon, now has a female companion, Daisy

A new friend has been found for a lonely Yorkshire reindeer, just in time for Christmas.

Sven, who lives at Little Haven Farm near Hull, had been sad ever since his friend Klaus, another reindeer, died several months ago, staff said.

But they said they had been "amazed" at the response after a crowdfunding effort raised £4,000 in just weeks.

It was "love at first sight" after Daisy was brought from a farm in Worcester, owner Suzie said.

"There were definitely signals he was very happy, let's put it that way," she said.

"Now we've got them together, it's amazing."

'Lovely to see'

The owners took over the farm in Hedon during the Covid pandemic, and the purchase included the reindeer, who are usually social, herd animals who like to live with other reindeer.

Suzie said Sven had been very lonely and agitated ever since Klaus died a few months ago, which had sparked the launch of the crowdfunder in November, appealing for a new reindeer buddy for him.

"Six weeks ago, we couldn't have stood in Sven's pen with him like this. He was a bit agitated," she said.

"You can definitely see he's calmed down a lot since Daisy arrived."

Suzie said Sven and Daisy had started their relationship "a little nervously", but were now sharing food and cuddling up together at night.

"It's just lovely to see," she said.

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