He points out Peary caribou naturally follow boom-and-bust cycles. Studying the Last Ice Area, one of WWF’s flagship Arctic initiatives, to help protect Peary caribou habitat, particularly sea ice crossings used for migration between islands. Prior to the establishment of Qausuittuq National Park, oil and gas explorations in the 1960s and 70s left behind industrial waste that can prevent caribou from feeding in certain areas, could cause physical injury, and, in some cases, is … Fazeela Amiri started this petition to World Wildlife Fund. The Government of Canada is taking action to protect species at risk, such as the Peary Caribou in Qausuittuq National Park. Cows produce one calf a year, and about 90 percent of adult cows give birth annually. Caribou cows are usually at least three years old before they can bear young, though 10 to 25 percent of two-year-old cows can also give birth. Calving time tends to be later the further east in North America the caribou are found. How can human save the Peary caribou? For example, the Peary Caribou in Arctic Canada are the smallest of the North American caribou at 100 kg (243 lbs) for males and 60 kg (132 lbs) for females. In a region where they had estimated 3,000 caribou and 1,500 muskoxen just four years earlier, this time they could account for only 43 caribou and 14 muskoxen in total. Many of these places are very remote, and nobody is there to watch what happens to the caribou. We use cookies to offer you a better experience, personalize content, tailor advertising, provide social media features, and better understand the use of our services. He points out Peary caribou naturally follow boom-and-bust cycles. -Some caribou migrate over 3000 miles a year. 2006 ). We chronicle our work in the field as we track the status of over 2,000 species: from mites to moose and lynx to lichen. This information was really important in coming up with a plan to help protect the Peary caribou, and the more the team understands about their movements and habitat requirements the more they, and the local community, can do to protect these important areas. Peary caribou are found in small groups throughout the year and graze while on the move. The Tidy Tundra = Healthy Herd project will remove abandoned industrial debris from past exploration activities and create a healthier habitat for caribou. No way," Idlout says. Let’s get to 1,500! What it lacks in size, however, it makes up for in looks. Peary Caribou have denser coats than the other caribou subspecies in Canada, which helps them survive the Arctic winter. But this is not the whole picture. The Peary caribou herd is a perfect example, making its home in the Canadian Arctic archipelago, a collection of islands wayyyy up north in the Arctic Sea. Idlout and other hunters dispute the current counts as being too low. Their faces are short and blunt and their hooves are quite wide, creating a sort of ‘snowshoe’ that helps them to walk with ease during the winter. Caribou have many strategies that help them cross rivers. Peary Caribou have a broad/varied diet and are versatile feeders with diet varying seasonally in relation to available forage and corresponding nutritional content.