英国一家连锁超市最近开始出售驯鹿肉，此举引起动物保护组织的抗议，称其破坏了圣诞节魔力，同时也剥夺了野生动物的生存权。据悉，该超市为德国折扣超市，在英国有530多家连锁店，他们出售的鹿肉品种为西伯利亚驯鹿，每包350克，售价6英镑。动物保护组织表示，将鲁道夫（给圣诞老人拉雪橇的驯鹿的名字）宰杀，然后将其变成人们圣诞节期间的盘中餐，这种想法令人作呕。圣诞节是一个让人们分享平和与善意的时候，所有的动物也应该享受这个时刻，而不是做为菜品被人品尝。

A reindeer walks on snow on in the Svalbard archipelago. The Lidl supermarket chain is under fire for selling reindeer meat in its British stores in the run-up to Christmas. (Agencies)

A supermarket chain was under fire on Monday for selling reindeer meat in its British stores in the run-up to Christmas.

German discount chain Lidl is selling frozen Siberian reindeer leg steaks at six pounds (9.60 dollars, seven euros) for a 350-gramme pack as part of its deluxe range.

Reindeer are traditionally associated with the festive season -- the story going that Father Christmas travels around the world delivering presents on a sleigh pulled by a team of flying reindeer.

Animal rights campaigners blasted Lidl, which defended its decision to sell the unusual meat by saying the reindeer had been well treated.

"Lidl is destroying the magic of Christmas by selling dead reindeer," said Justin Kerswell, the campaigns manager for Vegetarians International Voice for Animals.

"What they term 'luxury cuisine' belies the truth behind an industry that exists to exploit wild animals," he told trade magazine The Grocer.

Siberian reindeer were often herded by snowmobiles and in some cases by helicopters and motorbikes, Kerswell said.

"This and lassoing them cause huge stress. They can become so distraught their muscle can waste away."

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said: "The idea of 'Rudolph' being slaughtered and sliced into steaks for a novelty Christmas dinner is revolting.

"Christmas is supposed to remind us of peace and goodwill -- and the rest of the animal kingdom could do with a taste of it, rather than being tasted."

Lidl, which has more than 530 stores in Britain, said the reindeer were fed on "local aromatic herbs and grass.

"They live in their natural habitat and have plenty of space to move around," a spokeswoman said.

The supermarket is also selling pheasant, venison and springbok in the Christmas build-up.