WRRB approves proposed status and action plan for Kǫk’èetı Ekwǫ̀ (Bathurst Caribou)

Behchokǫ̀, NT: The WRRB passed a motion from the Bathurst Caribou Advisory Committee (BCAC) in May that will designate the herd at a critical low status.

Executive Director Jody Pellissey explained to the Board at its May 24-25 meeting that the committee came up with the recommendation following its annual status review in January 2023. 
BCAC created the Bathurst Caribou Management Plan in August 2021, which puts strict management protocols on the herd in order to address its low population numbers.

Currently, it is estimated there are approximately 6,200 animals in the herd, which is down from historical highs of about 386,000 in the eighties.
Among the list of protocols in the plan include:

• harvesting restrictions such as with a total allowable harvest of Kǫk’èetı Ekwǫ̀ of 0 in the NWT and 10 bulls in Nunavut
• predation control, such as with a continuation of the GNWT’s Dìga (Wolf) Management Program continued research of the herd such as with biological and community-based monitoring programs habitat preservation such as with cleanup of garbage and fuel at old exploration sites protection of lands and waters important to the herds, and;
• continued efforts in communicating and educating on ways to improve hunter practices to reduce waste of harvested animals. BCAC’s next annual status meeting will take place on December 12 and 13, 2023.

BCAC’s next annual status meeting will take place on December 12 and 13.