Are Baffin Island’s caribou numbers growing? Researchers plan to find out
Population was found to be decimated in 2015, but scientists are optimistic numbers are on the rebound
Researchers are planning a comprehensive survey of Baffin Island’s caribou population, starting in March. (File photo)
For the first time in a decade, there will be a comprehensive abundance survey of Baffin Island’s caribou population.
The last count, done in 2014, found an estimated decline to about 4,600 caribou from around 150,000 animals seen in the 1980s.
In response, the Nunavut government imposed a temporary moratorium on hunting caribou in January 2015 and after it was lifted has kept a tight rein on tags.
The limit for the 2023-24 season was set at 400, including 80 females.
This year’s aerial survey will start in southern Baffin Island in March, focusing on caribou populations that surround the communities of Iqaluit, Kimmirut, Kinngait, Pangnirtung and Qikiqtarjuaq.
David Qavvik, the minister of environment, provided a few details about the planned work Wednesday in the legislative assembly and expressed optimism about what the survey could find.
“At this time, based on the annual composition surveys and hunter observations, there are positive and encouraging signs of possible recovery in some south Baffin areas,” he said.
John Ringrose, the manager for wildlife research with the Department of Environment, will lead the work.
He said government researchers will work with local hunters and trappers. He agreed with Qavvik’s assessment in the legislative assembly that there is a strong indication south Baffin caribou have been on a steady period of growth since 2015.
“We have done smaller aerial surveys that suggest there is good productivity, there are a lot of calves, lots of cows and lots of healthy caribou,” he said.
Ringrose said hunters are reporting there are more caribou out on the land and there is a low presence of disease turning up in the harvest programs.
There is also a smaller numbers of predators around, he said.
“All of these things suggest there could be an increase in population,” Ringrose said.
An aerial survey of caribou populations in central and north Baffin Island are scheduled for the coming years.
Such small numbers. Even when they were around 180000 it was still small. Baffin are hungry people and the numbers will go down in an instant. Watch when baffin don’t need tags, the caribou numbers are going to decline.
When , the numbers go down , blame the minning companies
I guess Northerner doesn’t eat Caribou meat!
Are Kivalliq caribou still available at bootleg price?
Or are we going that old…”it’s their fault” route. That is getting old.
I think quotas are here to stay for Baffin Island.
Over harvesting is an issue even in the Kivalliq where there is still lots os tuktu.
We have to determine what is a healthy caribou population on a rocky island in the arctic. Likin is one of the worlds slowest growing plants and if the herd over populates, their food sources does not have an opportunity to grow back.
Kivalliq caribou price just Jumped
I thought of selling caribou meat on Facebook, but it’s not how I was raised, I just give away for free, always the same sellers even labeled as reliable 😂