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George River Caribou Population Decline
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800,000 Population
During the 1980's the population of the George River Caribou was at its highest peak, 800,000. Despite the strict harvest management measures implemented in the last couple of hunting seasons, the results of the recent survey confirm that the George River herd is beginning to decline at an alarming rate. -
Cyclical theory and how it ties in with Population trends
The Cyclical theory explains that society has a predetermined life cycle: birth, growth, maturity and decline. Society, after passing through all these stages of life cycle, returns to the original stage and thus the cycle begins again. Therefore, since this is talking about how a life cycle can increase and decrease, this relates to how social change effects the depletion of the Caribou. -
Climate Change
Climate change:
Involves rapidly rising Arctic temperatures that are throwing caribou out of sync with the environment in which they evolved.Warming has also caused an increase in precipitation, adding thicker blankets of snow for the caribou to dig through to get at the lichens and mosses that sustain them in winter. When the precipitation comes as freezing rain, the food source remains locked under an impenetrable layer making them use alot of energy and causing them to starve to death. -
Human influence
Increasing human activities diamond mines, ice roads, oil and gas exploration, a pending pipeline, outfitters and increasing populations in caribou territory is another major factor. In 2004 alone, more than two million hectares of mineral claims were staked in the Northwest Territories. -
Decreased to 385,000
The George River caribou numbered about 385,000 animals in 2001 as the years continued. -
Conditions, Protests and impact of social change on individuals
Inuit, Quebec native groups, and representatives from Labrador are meeting this week in Kuujjuaq, Que., to attempt to come up with a management plan for the declining George River caribou herd. However, after this meeting took place there were many protests against and for this meeting. There were some people who agreed no more hunting and then there were the hunters (aboriginals) who did not agree to these terms and continued.
