who was baby reindeer based on

The story of the baby reindeer was inspired by a real-life event that happened in Norway in 1825. A baby reindeer was separated from its mother and ended up at a farm, where it was raised by the farmer and his family. The reindeer was treated like a member of the family and even had a bed in the house. When Christmas came around, the family decided to give the reindeer as a gift to King Charles XIV John of Sweden. The reindeer was named Knut, and it quickly became a favorite of the king.