A reindeer that had been part of an ice and snow festival is still at large as of 9 a.m. Wednesday, 30 hours after it escaped from Fairy Mountain in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.
Fairy Mountain, Wulong County, hired two reindeers, one male and one female, from a Russian farm earlier this month and kept them in a wooden enclosure on the hilltop of a ski resort.
A member of the security patrol confirmed that at 2 a.m. Tuesday, the two animals were alive and well. However, when the security guard returned at 6 a.m, despite being tied to a tree the male was missing. The security guard said the deer must have jumped the fence after breaking its leash.
Over 60 staff of the scenic spot and several hundred villagers are involved in the the search.
Manager Li Tongbin said the transportation expense alone cost them as much as 60,000 yuan (9,290 U.S. dollars) and the two creatures have been well fed.
"The two reindeers were supposed to pull a Christmas sledge for tourists during the holiday season," Li said, "we are not worried about the show at the moment. It is the reindeer that is our top concern."
Reindeers are very particular about food, only eating moss brought in from Russia supplemented by a few local vegetables and clover.
The region is experiencing snow at the moment, this will make it very difficult for the animals to find food.
The search for the animal continues.
