Manuscript Report 171

ABSTRACT

 In 2005, Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-East and Bluenose-West caribou herd population estimates indicated all three herds were declining. In 2006, standard methods were used to conduct photo-census surveys on the three herds to confirm population estimates obtained in 2005 and determine if herds had continued to decline. Surveys were also undertaken to estimate the number of reindeer and caribou on the upper Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula. Analysis of the results provided a population estimate of 18,050 +527 non-calf caribou (CV = 1%) for the Bluenose-West herd. This population estimate was significantly lower than that for 2005 indicating that this herd has continued to decline. A population estimate of 1,821 +149 non-calf caribou (CV = 4%) was generated for the Cape Bathurst herd. This population estimate is significantly lower than that for 2005 indicating that this herd has also continued to decline. The population estimate for reindeer/caribou in the upper Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula was 3,078 non-calf reindeer/caribou. Previous estimates for this area were obtained with different methods so it is not appropriate to compare them with this estimate. Conditions were favourable for the successful completion of the photocensus surveys and researchers believe the population estimates generated are precise and accurate, indicating that herd declines are real and that these herds continued to decline between 2005 and 2006.