Caribou Migration and Conservation in the Warming Arctic

Caribou undertake some of the longest land migrations on Earth, but climate change and industrial development are disrupting migration routes and affecting herd welfare.

Key Facts

The George River herd in Canada once exceeded 800,000 animals - now fewer than 9,000 remain
Caribou migrations of 5,000 kilometers are among the longest of any terrestrial mammal
Icing events from rain-on-snow freeze vegetation under impenetrable ice, causing starvation
Industrial roads and pipelines in the Arctic disrupt migration routes and calving grounds
Climate warming is causing earlier spring green-up that mismatches with calving timing

Welfare Considerations

Individual caribou welfare during population declines includes malnutrition from forage inaccessibility under ice, longer migration routes to circumvent industrial infrastructure, and reduced calving success when timing mismatches with forage availability. Starvation events can affect thousands of animals over extended periods. The welfare and conservation crises are inseparable - healthy, abundant herds are comprised of healthy individual animals with adequate nutrition, successful reproduction, and accessible migration routes.

What You Can Do

Support Indigenous-led caribou conservation efforts that integrate traditional knowledge
Advocate for Arctic industrial development policies that protect migration corridors
Donate to research programs monitoring caribou herd dynamics and welfare indicators
Learn about the relationship between Indigenous livelihoods and caribou conservation
Oppose Arctic development proposals that would fragment critical caribou calving grounds