Canada’s Caribou Migrations Face Increasing Threats
Why this is here: The Bathurst caribou herd’s drastic decline—from roughly 470,000 to only 3,600 animals since the 1980s—highlights the rapid and severe impact of environmental changes on a keystone Arctic species.
Delegates are meeting in Brazil to discuss threats to migratory species, including Canada’s caribou. Canada has not ratified the convention guiding the meeting, but it sets international norms. Tundra caribou undertake some of Earth’s longest land migrations—hundreds or thousands of kilometers annually—sustaining ecosystems and Indigenous cultures.
The Bathurst caribou herd has declined by over 99% since the 1980s, now numbering around 3,600 animals. Changing Arctic conditions, including earlier plant growth and increased grizzly bear presence, disrupt traditional migration benefits.
Proposed infrastructure projects in northern Canada and Alaska threaten to fragment caribou migration routes. Indigenous communities are voicing concerns about these projects and emphasizing the need for their knowledge to guide planning. A recent UN report indicates nearly half of migratory species face population declines.