Due to declining population numbers, the Arctic caribou has been listed as Endangered on the Northwest Territories list of Species at Risk.
The decline has been seen in Dolphin and Union caribou, both of which were added to the List is 2015 as species of “Special Concern.” A reassessment in 2023 determined that they had grown to a higher risk of extinction due to their dwindling numbers and an increase of threats to their existence from climate change.
Now that Arctic caribou are listed as Endangered, a recovery strategy will be put in place, as is routine in the NWT. A management plan is already in place for Dolphin and Union caribou in both the NWT and Nunavut, which will continue to direct conservation efforts until a full strategy is developed.
While these caribou are now listed as Endangered, the harvest of these animals is not prohibited. The harvest of Dolphin and Union caribou is carefully managed by local Inuit communities. The successful recovery of these animals is dependant on the cooperation of many different groups with responsibility for wildlife and land management in the NWT and Nunavut.
