For caribou in the NWT, the future doesn鈥檛 seem so great.

According to the NWT Species at Risk, there are about 6,000 mature boreal caribou in the territory. That number is expected to go down however, due to continued habitat fragmentation and degradation, according to a report from 2022.

Now, NWT wildlife management authorities have to come to what they call an implementation agreement.

鈥淭he implementation agreement identifies the actions NWT management authorities intend to take to put the management plan into action,鈥� according to the Conference of Management Authorities (CMA).

Their goal is simple: to prevent 快盈v3 mountain caribou from becoming threatened or endangered. How they can accomplish this goal varies.

For one group that helps make up the CMA, the Sahtu Renewable Resources Board (SRRB), one answer is through analyzing caribou poop.

Seriously.

Manisha Singh is the research manager for SRRB. She explained they鈥檙e using caribou feces to analyze their DNA.

鈥淲e鈥檝e partnered with Environment and Climate Change Canada to study fecal samples,鈥� Singh said, adding that it鈥檚 a non-invasive practice. Among many things, it helps to see any potential relationships between caribou herds.

Other than relationships, Singh added they鈥檙e also able to learn more about caribou movement.

鈥淪o far, we鈥檝e done four years of fecal sampling work and we鈥檙e just in the process of developing all of the data from that analysis,鈥� she said. When that data comes out is still uncertain.

Another key for SRRB, Singh said, is to collaborate with and help Sahtu leaders and guardians alike.

鈥淲hen researchers come in town to study caribou or the landscape, they can employ Sahtu youth and guardians,鈥� Singh said.

She added that wildfires are a huge threat to caribou and their habitat also. How this coming season will affect caribou, she can鈥檛 be sure.

As for the whole of CMA, their progress will be reported on every five years, as required under the Species at Risk (NWT) Act.

As stated in their press release, there are no automatic prohibitions or protections for northern mountain caribou, or its habitat, associated with the implementation of the management plan. The plan doesn鈥檛 change current quotas, by-laws or regulations either.