Caribou and Reindeer (Rangifer)

D. Russell¹ and A. Gunn²

¹Yukon College, Box 10038 Whitehorse YT, Canada Y1A 7A1
²368 Roland Road, Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada V8K 1V1

November 15, 2011

Highlights

• The total, pan-Arctic population of Arctic reindeer and caribou (Rangifer) may have ceased to decline, thus ending a ~40-year cycle.
• There is strong regional variation in Rangifer populations; some are declining, but most are either increasing or stable.

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Geographic variation of Rangifer

The most recent population estimates for migratory tundra reindeer and caribou herds indicate that many are either increasing or stable (Porcupine, Central Arctic, Teshekpuk Lake, Cape Bathurst, Bluenose West, Bluenose East, Lena-Olenyk, Kangerlussuaq-Sisimiut), with a few herds starting or continuing to decline (George River, Leaf River, Chokotka, Taimyr, Akia-Maniitsoq, Western Arctic). The current status of the 23 herds updated by the CircumArctic Monitoring and Assessment (CARMA) Network is illustrated in Fig. TE4. Numbers in the map are referenced to specific herds in the text below.

Fig. TE4. Current status of the world's migratory tundra reindeer and caribou herds. 1: Western Arctic; 2: Teshekpuk Lake; 3: Central Arctic; 4: Porcupine; 5: Cape Bathurst; 6: Bluenose West; 7: Bluenose East; 8: Bathurst; 9: Ahiak; 10: Beverly; 11: Qamanirjuaq; 12: Southampton; 13: Leaf River; 14: George River; 15: Kangerlussuaq-Sisimiut; 16: Akia-Maniitsoq; 17: Snoefells; 18: Norwegian; 19: Taimyr; 20: Lena-Olenyk; 21: Yana-Indigurka; 22: Sundrunskya; 23: Chokotka. Descriptions of the herds in the text are cross-referenced to the numbers above.

Temporal variation in migratory tundra Rangifer

Local and traditional knowledge has indicated that caribou go through periods of abundance and scarcity every 40-60 years. However, relatively objective population estimates have only been employed since the late 1960s and early 1970s. These estimates have shown one single "cycle" over the last 40 years. This cycle is "somewhat" synchronous around the Arctic, although there is a lot of individual herd variation (Fig. TE5).

Fig. TE5. The relative population size (proportion of maximum estimate) for migratory tundra Rangifer herds (1970-2010). The red line is a 6-year running average. Data are from the CARMA Web site www.carmanetwork.com).

There has been considerable concern that declining numbers of caribou in the last decade were associated with global warming (Vors and Boyce 2009); however, no clear link between individual herd declines and climate was ever established. In the last 3 years, population estimates indicate that we may now be seeing a halt to the declines, and recovery for some of the herds, particularly in western Canada (Fig. TE4). At the same time, herds that have not declined since estimates began have started to decline. Increased development, more efficient harvesting methods and regional climate trends, however, are still a concern that may affect speed, timing and magnitude of the recovery (Gunn et al. 2010).

In the last 20-30 years, methods of counting have become more standardized, which improves the statistical reliability of trend information. Herd size is estimated from photographs taken either when the cows aggregate on the calving ground, or during summer when the insect harassment drives the animals into aggregations. In Russia, the methods include photography of summer aggregations, but without the use of radio- or satellite-collared individuals to ensure that all aggregations are found. Since 1970, for the 23 circum-Arctic herds whose size is tracked through aerial surveys, the numbers of caribou and wild reindeer have declined from a recorded peak of about 5.5 million to 2.7 million (CARMA 2011).

In Alaska, the Western Arctic herd (1, Fig. TE4) was at a low (75,000) in the mid 1970s then increased during the 1980s and 1990s, and reached a peak of 490,000 in 2003. The herd then declined to 348,000 caribou in 2009 (Alaska Department of Fish and Game 2011a). Both the Teshekpuk Lake (2) and Central Arctic (3) herds were recognized as distinct herds in the 1970s, and were estimated to number 4000-5000. Both herds increased, and continued to increase, during the 1990s. By 2008, the Teshekpuk Lake herd had reached 64,107 and the Central Arctic herd 67,000 ((Parrett, 2009; Lenart 2009). The Porcupine herd (4) reached a peak in 1989 (178,000), declined to 123,000 by 2001, before recovering and increasing to 169,000 by 2010 (Alaska Department of Fish and Game 2011b).

In Canada, there is considerable variation in the timing of increases and decreases, and changes in survey techniques likely contributed to differences in estimated herd size. The ten herds have declined since peak sizes, and the Bathurst (8), Beverly (10) and Ahiak (9) herds are currently (2010) considered to be in decline. The Qamanirjuaq (11), was estimated to have decreased from 496,000 in 1994 to 345,000 in 2008 (Campbell et al. 2011). However, these estimates were not significantly different and, because there were 14 years between counts, any intervening trends could not be determined. The Cape Bathurst (5) and Bluenose-West (6) herds stabilized between 2006 and 2009 after sharp declines (Davison, pers. comm. 2010; CARMA 2011); the 2010 census of the Bluenose-East (7) showed that the herd has increased from 66,700 in 2006 to 98,600 in 2010 (Government of NWT 2010). Caribou were re-introduced on Southampton Island (12) in 1967, followed the extirpation of caribou on the island. The initial re-introduction increased to a peak of 30,381 animals in 1997. Disease and parasites have been implicated in the subsequent decline of the herd to a 2009 estimate of 13,953 (Campbell et al. in press). Since the mid-1980s, the George River Herd (14) sharply declined, based on the 2010 census, and the Leaf River Herd (13) has not been counted since 2001, although it is thought to be declining as well. The George River herd increased dramatically from about 5000 animals in the 1950s to 750,000 in the mid-1990s (Couturier et al. 2004). The herd then declined to about 385,000 individuals in 2001, and declined further to 74,131 based on the 2010 post-calving photo-census (Ressources naturelles et Faune 2010).

There are two major herds in Greenland. Recent surveys indicate that the largest herd, the Kangerlussuaq-Sisimiut (15) has increased from under 60,000 in 2001 to 98,000 in 2010. In contrast, the smaller Akia-Maniitsoq (16) herd declined from 46,000 in 2001 to 31,000 in 2010 (Cuyler 2007; CARMA 2011).

Reindeer were introduced to Iceland (17) in the late 1700s (Thórisson, 1984). In the absence of predators and with active harvesting the number was estimated at approximately 6,500 animals in fall 2009 (Thorarinsdottir, pers. comm. 2010; CARMA 2011).

Wild mountain reindeer in Norway (18) consist of 23 separate herds that in 2004 numbered from 22,000 to 29,000 animals. Herds are largely regulated by hunting and the degree of infrastructure, range fragmentation and forage conditions largely determine individual herd status (Lund 2004).

In Russia, the Taimyr Herd (19) is one of the largest in the world. Between the 1950s and 1970s, the herd increased from 110,000 to 450,000 in 1975. Commercial hunting increased and held the herd at about 600,000 animals. Then subsidies to commercial hunters were removed, hunting declined, and the herd grew rapidly to 1 million animals by the year 2000. Currently, the herd is assumed to be declining, although a population estimate has not been conducted since 2000 (Klovov 2004, Kolpashikov et al, in press). East of the Taimyr is the central Siberian region of Yakutia where three large herds of migratory tundra wild reindeer currently exist. The Lena-Olenek herd (20) in 2009 numbered over 95,000 reindeer, a slight increase from 90,000 estimated in 2001. The Yana-Indigirka (21) population declined from 130,000 reindeer in 1987 to 34,000 by 2002. The Sundrun (22) population declined from about 40,000 reindeer in 1993 to about 28,500 by 2002. East of Yakutia, the Chukotka herd (23) increased following the collapse of the domestic reindeer industry. The domestic reindeer industry rapidly collapsed from 587,000 in 1971 to about 92,000 by 2001 (Klokov 2004). Consequently, the wild reindeer recovered and numbered 32,200 individuals by 1986, and 120-130,000 in 2002, then declined to less than 70,000 by 2009.

References

Alaska Department of Fish and Game. 2011a. Press release - Western Arctic caribou Herd count revised. http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=pressreleases.pr03242011.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game. 2011b. Press release - Porcupine Caribou Herd shows growth. http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=pressreleases.pr03022011.

Campbell, M. Boulanger, J. and Lee, D. in press. Demographic Effects of an Outbreak of Brucella suis On Island Bound Barren-Ground Caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) Southampton Island Nunavut. Presented at the 13th Arctic Ungulate Conference, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, August, 2011.

Campbell, M., Nishi, J. and Boulanger, J. 2010. A calving ground photo survey of the Qamanirjuaq migratory barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) population -- June 2008. Technical Report Series 2010 No. 1-10. Government of Nunavut. 129 p.

CARMA. 2011. Circumarctic Monitoring and Assessment (CARMA) Network Web site www.carmanetwork.com.

Couturier, S., Jean, D., Otto, R. and Rivard, S. 2004. Demography of the migratory tundra caribou (Rangifer tarandus) of the Nord-du-québec region and Labrador. Ministère des Ressources Naturelles, de la Faune et des Parcs, Québec, and Direction de la recherche sur la faune. Québec. 68 p.

Cuyler C. 2007. West Greenland caribou explosion: What happened? What about the future? Proceedings of the 11th North American Caribou Workshop, Jasper, Alberta, Canada, 23-27 April 2006. Rangifer, Special Issue No. 17: 219-226.

Government of NWT. 2010. Press release - Survey results of Bluenose East caribou herd released. Website: http://www.enr.gov.nt.ca/_live/documents/content/Survey_Results_Bluenose-East_Caribou_Herd.pdf.

Gunn, A. and Russell, D.R. 2011. Northern Caribou Population Trends. Canadian Biodiversity: Ecosystem Status and Trends, 2010 Technical Thematic Report Series No. 10. Canadian Councils of Resource Ministers. Ottawa, iv+55 p.

Gunn A., Russell, D., White, R. & Kofinas, G. 2009. Facing a Future of Change: Migratory caribou and reindeer. Arctic 62(3): 3-4.

Klokov. K. 2004. Russia. Chapter Family-Based Reindeer Herding and Hunting Economies, and the Status and Management of Wild Reindeer/Caribou Populations. Sustainable Development Program, Arctic Council, Published by Centre for Saami Studies, University of Tromsø.

Kolpashikov, L., V. Makhailov, and D. Russell. In press. The role of harvest in the dynamics of the Taimyr wild reindeer herd: Lessons for North America.

Lenart, E. A. 2009. Units 26B and 26Ccaribou. Pages 299-325 in P. Harper. Editor. Caribou Management report of survey and inventory activities 1 July 2006 - 30 June 2008. Alaska Department of Fish and game. Project 3.0 Juneau, Alaska, USA.

Lund, E. 2004. Wild reindeer in Norway. In: (B. Ulvevadet and K. Klokov eds.) Family-Based Reindeer Herding and Hunting Economies, and the Status and Management of Wild Reindeer/Caribou Populations. Sustainable Development Program, Arctic Council, Published by Centre for Saami Studies, University of Tromsø.

Parrett, L. S. 2009. Unit 26A. Teshekpuk caribou herd. Pages 271-298 in P. Harper. Editor. Caribou Management report of survey and inventory activities 1 July 2006 - 30 June 2008. Alaska Department of Fisg and game. Project 3.0 Juneau, Alaska, USA.

Ressources naturelles et Faune. 2010. Results of the George River Caribou Herd census [online]. Government of Quebec. http://www.mrn.gouv.qc.ca/english/press/press-release-detail.jsp?id=8713 (accessed 23 December, 2010). Press release.

Thórisson, S. 1984. The history of reindeer in Iceland and reindeer study 1979-1981. Rangifer 4 (2): 22-38.

Vors, L. S. and Boyce, M. S. (2009), Global declines of caribou and reindeer. Global Change Biology 15: 2626-2633.