Government measures will preserve B.C.’s caribou population

Many of us who are fortunate enough to live in this beautiful province have had opportunities to travel or work in areas where wildlife roam freely across stunning landscapes or live in specialized ecosystems that support their particular needs.

With its new $27-million investment in a comprehensive caribou recovery program, the B.C. government is demonstrating its commitment to preserving these majestic animals.

Woodland caribou populations in B.C. have been declining in recent years, in part due to human activities that have altered their traditional feeding and wintering ranges. There are currently about 19,000 caribou living in the mountains and boreal forests of the province, compared to an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 animals in the early 1900s.

The government’s new strategy will address this concern by: protecting and restoring critical caribou habitat; maintaining its maternity penning program to help protect female caribou and their young from predators and other dangers; controlling predators where they limit recovery; expanding research and monitoring programs for existing herds; and stepping up compliance and enforcement efforts to ensure at-risk caribou have the best possible chance of survival.

The primary goal of the program is the long-term viability of the province’s 51 woodland caribou herds, which are concentrated in our northern boreal forests and the mountains of southern B.C.

Government biologists and ecosystem specialists will continue to work with communities, First Nations, resource licensees and other stakeholders to ensure these caribou herds are given the best possible chance to increase their numbers in a changing environment.

This enhanced caribou recovery program is an important and necessary step in that ongoing journey.

Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations