Caribou numbers plummet in eastern Canada
Biologists are alarmed at the precipitous decline in the George River caribou population roaming the eastern provinces of Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
A July photo survey found there were 14,200 caribou down from 27,000 in 2012, and 74,000 in 2010. In the 1980s, the numbers were between 700,000 and 800,000.
Biologists call the decline “devastating” and “a really big crash” and will investigate what they suspect are multiple causes. Severe hunting restrictions have already been imposed and resource extraction has been limited.
Historically, caribou herds have declined and later rebounded. But biologists are worried this herd may decline further before it grows again.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Dene elder refuses to pay fine for caribou hunt, CBC News
Finland: Reindeer glitter to improve road safety in Finland, Yle News
Norway: Blog – Reindeer migration (by boat!) in Arctic Norway (VIDEO), Eye on the Arctic
Sweden: Bear hunt quota worries reindeer herders in Sweden’s Arctic, Radio Sweden
United States: Wildfires could threaten Arctic caribou herd’s winter habitat: study, Alaska Dispatch
