George River Caribou Herd Down 50 Percent Since 2013

Another decline in the once mighty George River Caribou Herd.

Government officials say the herd is down to an estimated 10,200 animals, a decrease of almost 50 percent since 2013.

The herd had numbers of up to 700,000 animals in the 1980’s.

While calf survival rates have increased to 20 percent, up from ten percent in 2013, only five percent of the herd are large, adult males. Overall adult mortality is at 30 percent.

A five year ban on hunting the herd was implemnented in 2013 and review of that ban will be released soon.

courtesy of VOCM