ST. JOHN S, N.L. Newfoundland and Labrador wildlife officials are investigating evidence of alleged illegal hunting of caribou in southern Labrador. Officers with the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture discovered the evidence at a campsite in southern Labrador that they say was used by a group of hunters from Quebec, according to a statement on Wednesday. The department said it first became aware of the group from Quebec on Feb. 25. It said officers made regular visits to the site and noted there were more than 30 snowmobiles there at some points. Caribou hunting is illegal in Labrador, and herd populations have been dwindling for decades.
From my understanding from local people, that little bunch of caribou, the 30-odd caribou that was there, is gone. Like, they re no more, Yetman said, adding that there won t be caribou again in that area until the herd s population rebounds and is able to spread out again in pockets of small groupings.
Given the vast open Labrador land, the small herds tend to move in smaller pockets, with limited intermingling between factions within the herd, Yetman said.
The George River caribou herd in northern Labrador is one of three herds protected by a hunting ban.(Submitted by Brandon Pardy) Significant damage is caused by this, the way these hunts happened with these fragmented groups of caribou.
Illegal hunt of caribou being investigated, but stronger protections needed, says association msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
There are only an estimated 1,700 caribou left in the herd, spread out over roughly 80,000 square kilometres.
Elders who previously hunted the caribou for decades want to be able to pass down their cultural knowledge to the younger generation, Russell said, but are unable to do so without risking the herd being wiped out. They re suffering they re not killing caribou, they re not hunting caribou, even though they long to, even though they want the taste of caribou again, even though they want to show the younger generation, Russell said.
Todd Russell, president of the NunatuKavut community council of Labrador, says a potential caribou hunt is a regular concern.(Mark Quinn/ CBC)