is a reindeer the same as a caribou

No, a reindeer and a caribou are different animals, even though they're often mistakenly referred to as the same thing. Reindeer are domesticated animals that are kept as pets or used for transportation and labor in some parts of the world. They're smaller and more docile than caribou, and they have distinctive antlers that are used for display during mating season. Caribou, on the other hand, are wild animals that live in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. They're much larger than reindeer and have more shaggy coats for cold weather survival.