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Gunn, A. 2005.
The Decline of
Caribou on Northwest Victoria Island 1980–93.
68pp
Abstract
The evidence for a decline in caribou abundance between 1980 and
1993 on northwest Victoria Island includes reports by hunters of difficulty
finding caribou in the early 1990s, and aerial surveys which suggest a decline
from an abundance of approximately 4000–6000 in 1980, to 100–300 by 1993. The
annual harvest as a proportion of estimated herd size increased between 1980 and
1992 to 30%. The elders of Holman also identified recent over-hunting a cause of
the decline. Aerial surveys were completed during both winter and calving, which
reduces the likelihood that the reduced abundance was from a shift in
distribution. Evidence is inconclusive as to whether predation, competition with
muskoxen or winter weather were contributing factors. A survey of local
knowledge on wolves provided evidence that wolves have increased during the last
decade.
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