Parasitic disease in caribou ‘above average,’ minister says
Hunters report disease in Kitikmeot and Kivalliq caribou herds; GN still waiting on some test results
Nunavut Environment Minister Daniel Qavvik said in the legislative assembly on Monday that hunters in Kitikmeot and Kivalliq are reporting higher than normal levels of parasitic disease in caribou herds. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Hunters in the Kitikmeot and Kivalliq regions are finding more diseased barren-ground caribou this fall than usual, according to Environment Minister Daniel Qavvik.
In the legislative assembly Monday, he said an “above-average level” of diseased caribou has been reported.
Qavvik said a sample from a Kitikmeot caribou confirmed the presence of parasitic disease. Three samples were sent for diagnostic testing.
He added the Government of Nunavut is still waiting on results from the Kivalliq samples.
He said the parasites are suspected to be causing inflammation of the muscles and connective tissue in the caribou.
Qavvik didn’t have an answer when Arviat-South MLA Joe Savikataaq asked what an above-average level of reporting is for caribou.
“I’ll get back to [Savikataaq] with more detailed information,” he said.
Qavvik said that from Sept. 8 to 19, seven hunters came to the Kugluktuk wildlife office to report sick caribou in the Bluenose-East barren-ground herd.
In total, 10 of the animals were reported sick. Staff from the Department of Environment got a sample from a caribou carcass and another was provided by a hunter.
Qavvik said that in Rankin Inlet, a hunter reported four diseased caribou near Chesterfield Inlet on Sept. 19. Qavvik told Nunatsiaq News he doesn’t know when his department will receive results from testing on those Kivalliq samples but the information will be publicly released.
He said his department is asking hunters to report any abnormalities in their caribou harvest.
“We ask that hunters take samples when safe to do so and report it to the conservation officer within the community,” he said.
He said his department asked that anyone with a contaminated caribou to leave it “to further not spread the disease among people.”
To be honest he cant answer anything. Does that fall on his staff for not telling him?
Results not back in from the lab yet…
Do feel for those that buy off herds from the mainland, what if they contract deadly wildlife disease from consumption of such meat? Hunters sell unregulated meat not tested by Health Canada. Though it provides financial means, the territory should be looking at monitoring the condition of meats and should send samples out for testing prior to selling. We have systems in place to check the status of walrus that is doled to Nunavummiun and should maybe be doing that for all species that humans consume.
Inuit’s right to trade amongst each other is protected under federal legislation. There is no legislation or regulation that have the authority to stop Inuit from trading with fellow Inuit in Canada.
Even exporting or importing between territories and provinces if it is between an Inuk living in Nunavut and an Inuk living in Northern Quebec do not need an export/import permit.
Any big game meat caribou or muskox over 20kg inuk or not still needs an export permit if it leaves Nunavut
Parasites? look at the hallowed walls of GN, there’s more than needed in Nunavut. Speaking of screwed!!!!
The only parasite I find on my caribou are warble fly larvae and even those are edible. Get a grip “government of Nunavut”
I gotta ask; If the warble fly larvae is edible and was eaten, and the pissi fish is covered in black flies that are laying their eggs in it…
Then why does every Inuit freak out when a single fly starts to buzz through the building?
I don’t think We Inuit dry fish or caribou meat when there are flies around, We usually dry meat in the spring before the flies, and early fall when the flies are not around.
First nations smoke there meats during the summer, and I think they’re smart.
I’m with a culture and tradition that has been carried for thousands of years. My father taught me what I need to know about our animals. How to preserve them. What parts are good to eat. How to cache caribou. How to dry. Any thing you can do, I can do too. I know medicinal uses for animals. Alot of you people always assume. Quick to assume. Quick to anger.
Nacho Libre (2006) – “I Don’t Believe In God; I Believe In Science!”
I believe in Science as well, you cannot be foolish to believe that your knowledge that eating something and not get sick are two different things, Look at the Victoria Island, they are finding parasites in Umingmaks (Muskox) that is found in only Cats down south…….explain that to me Jesus!
This is a good reason to keep species reasonable low. Wildlife people think species populations should be big and growing. Parasites like big numbers so that they can also grow their populations.
This is what predators are for
Another excuse for people to eat poutine
Can we have a follow-up story on the possible reasons for increased infestations of disease? It would be good to learn from both IQ and from science how factors affect caribou health. As well as what to look out for in the event a sick caribou is harvested. I think any information would be very useful to readers, especially for young harvesters.