Caribou Herds In Drastic Decline

Caribou have long been synonymous with the Arctic as far back as the Stone Age. However, recent studies have shown drastic declines in caribou herds in the Arctic in just the past few years. Scientists and conservationists are concerned that the decline of the caribou will drastically disrupt the elaborate ecosystem in the Arctic.

Researchers at the University of Alberta recently published a study in the Global Change Biology journal. The study found that of the 43 herds of caribou currently being studied around the globe, 34 of them are in major decline. The findings are so severe that the average reduction of caribou is 57 percent. 22 of the 34 herds in North America are also reducing in numbers.

A herd in the Yukon and Alaska, called the Porcupine herd, reduced in numbers between 1989 and now from 178,000 to 100,000. The world’s largest herd, the Taimyr herd in Siberia, declined from 1 million to 750,000 since the year 2000. A Northwest Territories herd, the Bathurst herd, dwindled from 128,000 in 2006 to only 32,000 this year.

One of the formerly major herds, the Beverly herd in Canada, had a population of 276,000 in 1994 and can no longer be found. Caribou herds over the years have had changes in their numbers, however it is never as severe or consistent amongst multiple herds. Overall, global warming is pinpointed as the cause of the caribou herd declines.

Global warming, which impacts the Arctic more severely than other locales in the world, is devastating the caribou in numerous ways. Freezing rains in the fall are causing the caribou’s main food source to be trapped under sheets of ice. The increased heat and subsequent dryness has increased the wildlife season as well, another factor in caribou food reduction.

The increased temperatures and length of summer has caused an increase in mosquitoes, flies and other insects. These have caused an increase in illnesses and in aggravating the animals while they are trying to forage--commonly reducing their ability to do so. In addition, the spring comes at least two weeks earlier than is normal and causes issues for pregnant cows and new calves.

Scientists have a bleak outlook for caribou survival due to slow adaptation. The animals are not expected to make the necessary changes in time to save their species. Scientists state that the only chance they have for survival is the reduction of greenhouse gases worldwide and the decreased impact on the Arctic.