Urgent: Caribou Herd in Quebec Plummets – Indigenous Communities Face Cultural and Food Security Crisis
NUNAVIK, QUEBEC – A dramatic decline in the Rivière aux Feuilles caribou herd is sparking urgent concern across northern Quebec, with the population dwindling to just 136,000 individuals as of 2025 – a staggering drop from the 600,000 recorded in the early 2000s. This breaking news impacts not only the ecosystem but also the cultural identity and food security of the Cree, Inuit, and Naskapi communities who rely on the caribou for sustenance and tradition. The situation echoes the perilous fate of the nearby George River herd, now numbering a mere 8,600, raising fears of a similar collapse.
The Rivière aux Feuilles caribou undertake an incredible annual migration across northern Quebec. (Photo Credit: Anthony Asselin/MELCCFP)
A Rapid Decline: What’s Driving the Crisis?
The Quebec Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP) recently presented its latest data, revealing a concerning 12% decline in the herd within just one year. Biologists are grappling with a complex web of factors, including a low reproduction rate – only 25 fawns per 100 females – and precarious adult survival rates (84% for females, 78% for males). While natural factors like food scarcity and predation are considered, experts are struggling to pinpoint the primary driver.
“We’re observing an amplification of the decline, similar to what happened with the George River herd,” explains MELCCFP biologist Joëlle Taillon. “There are natural pressures, but something is exacerbating them.” Increasingly, human factors are coming under scrutiny. Road construction and mining infrastructure disrupt traditional migration routes, forcing caribou to expend more energy. Perhaps most significantly, climate change is altering the landscape, with late-freezing waterways posing a challenge to the animals’ energy balance.
Indigenous Communities Respond: A Balancing Act
The impact on Indigenous communities is profound. Caribou are central to the cultural practices and dietary needs of the Cree, Inuit, and Naskapi. The Cree Nation government has proactively requested its members to voluntarily abstain from hunting this year, a call that has largely been heeded. “Solidarity between our communities, between hunters, and between nations is crucial,” states Great Chief Paul John Murdoch. “The response has been incredibly encouraging.”
However, the situation is more nuanced for the Inuit. The Makivvik Corporation, representing Inuit interests, has opted to maintain hunting practices, recognizing that many families depend on caribou meat, which remains significantly more affordable than store-bought alternatives in Nunavik. To aid in understanding the situation, Makivvik plans to launch a mobile application in 2026 to track hunter harvests, providing valuable data to researchers.
Nunavik hunters traditionally share their catch within the community, ensuring food security. (Photo Credit: Jobie Tukkiapik)
The Power of Data and Collaboration for Long-Term Solutions
The data collected through the Makivvik app, combined with ongoing research using telemetry collars and field observations, promises to provide a clearer picture of caribou movements and harvest rates. Laval University’s Caribou Ungava research chair, Steeve Côté, emphasizes the importance of this information. “Knowing where and when caribou are harvested will have significant implications for understanding their migration patterns and informing conservation efforts. I fully support this initiative.”
A collaborative management plan involving the three Indigenous nations and the MELCCFP is under discussion, but Makivvik stresses the need for thorough community consultations before implementing any restrictive measures. “We need to work with our communities, our hunters, and our trappers,” says Adamie Delisle Alaku, Vice-President of Makivvik. “This can’t be rushed. We need to implement measures, but it will take time.” The MELCCFP is committed to continued analysis and a potential comprehensive inventory this summer, pending funding approval.
Ultimately, the goal is not simply to halt the decline, but to foster conditions that allow the Rivière aux Feuilles caribou herd to stabilize and thrive. As Joëlle Taillon notes, “Ideally, we’d like to see declining population growth, at least to maintain the species at levels that the ecosystem can support. We don’t know those levels yet, but we can work towards creating favorable conditions.” The future of this iconic species, and the communities that depend on it, hangs in the balance, demanding immediate action and sustained collaboration.
Stay tuned to archyde.com for further updates on this developing story and in-depth coverage of environmental issues and Indigenous affairs. Explore our environment section for more on conservation efforts and the impact of climate change.
