George River Caribou herd remains at a vulnerable low

The population of the George River Caribou Herd remains at a vulnerable low.

In the latest census, conducted by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Quebec and the Nunatsiavut Government, there are an estimated 7,200 caribou.

Since 2020 the population has declined by 11 percent. Since 2001 the population declined by 98 percent.

The adult proportion of the population increased by an average of seven percent per year from 2018 to 2022.

The 2020 census results showed the first George River caribou population increase in over 25 years, from an estimated 5,500 caribou in 2018 to 8,100 caribou in 2020.

The Provincial Government says, "despite these gains, the continued illegal harvest of George River caribou by a relatively small number of people continues to delay and threaten herd recovery."