Peary Caribou (Rangifer Tarandus Pearyi) Tuktu Tuktuinak Tuktuaraaluit Tuttunguluurat Caribou De Peary
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SPECIES STATUS REPORT Peary Caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi) Tuktu Tuktuinak Tuktuaraaluit Tuttunguluurat Caribou de Peary in the Northwest Territories Threatened December 2012 Status of Peary Caribou in the NWT Species at Risk Committee status reports are working documents used in assigning the status of species suspected of being at risk in the Northwest Territories (NWT). Suggested citation: Species at Risk Committee. 2012. Species Status Report for Peary Caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi) in the Northwest Territories. Species at Risk Committee, Yellowknife, NT. © Government of the Northwest Territories on behalf of the Species at Risk Committee ISBN: 978-0-7708-0203-5 Production note: The drafts of this report were prepared by Roger McMillan (traditional and community knowledge component) and Kim Poole and Anne Gunn (scientific knowledge component), prepared under contract with the Government of the Northwest Territories, and edited by Joanna Wilson and Michelle Henderson. For additional copies contact: Species at Risk Secretariat c/o SC6, Department of Environment and Natural Resources P.O. Box 1320 Yellowknife, NT X1A 2L9 Tel.: (855) 783-4301 (toll free) Fax.: (867) 873-0293 E-mail: [email protected] www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca ABOUT THE SPECIES AT RISK COMMITTEE The Species at Risk Committee was established under the Species at Risk (NWT) Act. It is an independent committee of experts responsible for assessing the biological status of species at risk in the NWT. The Committee uses the assessments to make recommendations on the listing of species at risk. The Committee uses objective biological criteria in its assessments and does not consider socio-economic factors. Assessments are based on species status reports that include the best available Aboriginal traditional knowledge, community knowledge and scientific knowledge of the species. The status report is approved by the Committee before a species is assessed. ABOUT THIS REPORT This species status report is a comprehensive report that compiles and analyzes the best available information on the biological status of Peary caribou in the NWT, as well as existing and potential threats and positive influences. Full guidelines for the preparation of species status reports, including a description of the review process, may be found at www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca. Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, provides full administrative and financial support to the Species at Risk Committee. Cover illustration photo credit: John A. Nagy, GNWT Status of Peary Caribou in the NWT Assessment of Peary Caribou The Northwest Territories Species at Risk Committee met in Behchokö, Northwest Territories on December 4, 2012 and assessed the biological status of Peary Caribou in the Northwest Territories. The assessment process and objective biological criteria used by the Species at Risk Committee are available at www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca. Status: Threatened in the Northwest Territories Likely to become endangered in the Northwest Territories if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to its extirpation or extinction Reasons for the assessment: Peary Caribou fits criteria (a) and (c) for Threatened (a) – There is evidence that the population is declining in such a way that it could disappear from the Northwest Territories in our children’s lifetime (c) – There is evidence that the population size is small and there is a decline and change [fluctuation] in population size such that it could disappear from the Northwest Territories in our children’s lifetime • All three Peary caribou subpopulations in the Northwest Territories display similar trends. High abundance was recorded in either the 1970s or 80s (Banks and northwest Victoria Islands) or the early 1960s (western Queen Elizabeth Islands), followed by steep declines (averaging >90%), with little evidence for recovery to historic higher numbers over a 20 year period. • The only evidence of some recovery has been seen in the Queen Elizabeth Islands. • The sustained low numbers (estimated 7,250 individuals) and high population variability between survey years suggest high vulnerability to further declines. • A key influence that likely halted the decline of Peary caribou in the 1990s was the restriction of hunting, especially of female caribou. • There does not seem to be an imminent threat (i.e. they are not facing imminent extinction), but they are very vulnerable to random catastrophic events. Page ii of 137 Status of Peary Caribou in the NWT • Peary caribou only exist in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Northwest Territories and Nunavut cannot count on a rescue effect from each other, because Peary caribou numbers are low across their entire range. Threats to Peary Caribou and its habitat are: • Aspects of climate change alter availability of forage and ability to move between islands; • Increasing frequency of severe weather events due to climate change; • Potential disturbance from industrial exploration and development and human activity; • Potential competition for food and space with muskoxen; • Potential for overharvesting; and • Predation on Peary caribou by wolves is a threat due to small population size of Peary caribou. Positive influences on Peary Caribou and its habitat are: • Peary caribou are listed as Endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act and a recovery strategy must be developed by 2014; • Harvest quotas and voluntary restrictions on harvest; • Strong co-management and community leadership has resulted in the harvest quotas being reduced substantially and carefully monitored; • Habitat management is well-defined through Community Conservation Plans and the Inuvialuit Land Administration’s practice of seeking approval from local Hunters and Trappers Committees before approving development-related proposals; • Some incidental habitat protection through Aulavik National Park and Migratory Bird Sanctuary No.1; and • Some aspects of climate change could be beneficial to Peary caribou. These include warmer winters and more available high quality forage in summer. Page iii of 137 Status of Peary Caribou in the NWT Recommended measures to conserve Peary Caribou and its habitat are: • Reproduce historical studies on forage quantity, quality and snow conditions on Banks Island to better determine the effects of climate change on Peary caribou ecology; • Conduct frequent population surveys on Peary caribou; • Cooperate with other jurisdictions to ensure effective management of this trans-boundary species; • Commit funding to continue the collection and documentation of traditional knowledge on Peary caribou; • Monitor the effects of permafrost change on Peary caribou ecology; and • Substantially improve weather monitoring in the Arctic. Page iv of 137 Status of Peary Caribou in the NWT Executive Summary Traditional and Community Knowledge Scientific Knowledge Description Tuktuk (singular: Tuktu, Peary caribou, or Peary caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi) are Rangifer tarandus pearyi) are recognized by small in stature and have noticeably short legs Inuvialuit based on their smaller size, lighter and face. The winter coat is distinctive in being colour, and different taste and texture of the white with a pale brown back in early winter. meat compared to other groups of caribou. In summer, the coat is slate grey on the back Inuvialuit have historically used them as a and does not have the pronounced flank stripe primary source of food and clothing while typical of barren-ground caribou. The pale living and traveling on Banks Island and gray antler velvet is a striking distinguishing Northwest Victoria Island. They remain a characteristic compared to the brown velvet of preferred source of food for residents of Sachs barren-ground or woodland caribou. Harbour and Ulukhaktok. Distribution Peary caribou live on the islands of the Peary caribou are restricted to the High Arctic Canadian Arctic archipelago. Within the (Queen Elizabeth Islands) and the mid-Arctic Arctic islands of the NWT, records of islands of Canada, as well as the very northern community and traditional knowledge pertain extension of the mainland (Boothia Peninsula). almost exclusively to Banks Island and In the Northwest Territories (NWT), Peary Northwest Victoria Island; little has been caribou live on Banks Island, northwest documented for the Western Queen Elizabeth Victoria Island and the western Queen Islands. Elizabeth Islands. There have been observed movements of The current distribution in the NWT covers caribou between Banks and Northwest Victoria approximately 144,000 km2 and is naturally Island. On Northwest Victoria Island, Peary discontinuous (fragmented) by island caribou are found north of Ulukhaktok, geography and caribou behaviour into three predominantly north and northeast of Minto geographical subpopulations (sometimes called Page v of 137 Status of Peary Caribou in the NWT Traditional and Community Knowledge Scientific Knowledge Inlet and west of the Shaler Mountains. On herds). Surveys and observations have Banks Island, Peary caribou range across most indicated a halt to in migration between eastern of the island. Peary caribou are also known to coastal Banks and northwest Victoria islands, live on Melville Island and other islands in the and abandonments of three of the smaller Western Queen Elizabeth group. western Queen Elizabeth Islands. Observations of Peary caribou are made mainly in the context of hunting them for food, and this practice has declined over time in both Sachs Harbour