Nunavut plans to collar 55 more caribou in Kitikmeot and Kivalliq regions

Nunavut's Department of Environment is looking to collar 55 caribou with tracking devices this month from the Ahiak and the Qaminirjuaq herds to gather more data as mining exploration increases in their ranges.

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"The reason why we're having to increase the collars is because of the increase of resource development pressures that are going on on the range and the need for more information to ensure caribou are being protected," said Mitch Campbell, a biologist with the territory's Department of Environment.

A request for proposal was awarded in March to collar female caribou near Kugluktuk, Baker Lake and Arviat with GPS trackers.  

A capture crew made up of a biologist, a gunner and member of a local Hunter and Trappers Organization will fly on board a helicopter to a spot where caribou frequent – then wait. 

When a group of animals is spotted, the gunner prepares a net-gun used to restrain an animal. The helicopter then takes to the air and has a minute-and-a-half to capture a caribou. If it's unsuccessful, the crew has to find another group.

Campbell says the aim is to disturb the herd for the shortest amount of time possible.

More collaring coming?

Campbell said collaring caribou has been going on in the region since 1993. Collaring is usually done every three years and the last collaring was done two years ago. This year the department is looking to increase the number of collars per herd to 30 from 20.

The decision to collar more caribou from the herds was made prior to the Government of Nunavut's decision to change its position on development on caribou calving grounds and key migration corridors.

The government previously called for no development in those areas. In March, the government announced it now wants those decisions to be made on a case-by-case basis.

"That decision will mean that collaring will have to intensify in all herds for sure, if we want to monitor them appropriately," Campbell said.

"There will be implications for that but at the same time we're going to have to make sure the communities are OK with that because collaring is a sensitive topic for many communities."

A spokesperson for the HTO in Arviat says some people believe collaring can make the animals sick. Others see it as a way to keep tabs on how many caribou there are. 

The HTO is circulating a petition in the hamlet calling for a moratorium on mining activities in and around the Kivalliq region's calving grounds.

Caribou concern in Kivalliq

"Arviat has a major concern about getting mining around our community," said Hilda Panigoniak.

This follows a similar petition by a Baker Lake resident calling for the Government of Nunavut to reverse its decision.

"Caribou is our main country food," Panigoniak said. "We want to protect and know more about our caribou."

Though Campbell said the practice of collaring can be controversial, he said the effect on the animal is small. Each collar has a pre-programmed mechanism to drop off after just over three years. Adult females are targeted because their necks have fully grown. 

"The collars provide a wealth of information that is really critical these days for resource development and potential conflicts," he said.

"If development pressures increase, in order to properly monitor that we are going to need to dramatically increase the collaring program."