SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The GNWT and the Tlicho government say they are prepared to act swiftly to deal with the severe decline of the Bathurst caribou herd.

Tlicho Grand Chief Joe Rabesca, left, and Michael Miltenberger, Environment and Natural Resources minister, said they will be working together to draft a proposal on how to deal with the severe decline of the Bathurst Caribou herd at a press conference held Thursday afternoon. - Andrew Livingstone/NNSL photo

Results from a $350,000 June survey, released Thursday, show a drastic decline in population. Since a survey done in 2006, the herd has declined by more than 95,000 animals, to 31,897 from 128,047.

"We now know the time for census, the time for study, for aerial surveys, while they have an important place, is now over," said Michael Miltenberger, minister of Environment and Natural Resources, during a press conference Thursday afternoon.

In a technical briefing earlier in the day, GNWT caribou biologist Bruno Croft said it's unclear what is causing such a massive decline in a herd that, in 1985, totalled close to a half a million.

"We're scratching our heads," Croft said, adding the survey was the most precise they've completed since the mid-80s and covered 14,000 km of flight lines," he said.

Croft added there are numerous possibilities for the decline, including predation, over-harvesting and changes to environmental conditions. The three diamond mines, according to wildlife biologist Jan Adamczewski, could be a contributing factor.

"There is some sort of formal displacement around the mines," he said. "You get closer to the mines and there is less use by the caribou. Whether or not that necessarily translates into a big effect at the population level is a bit harder to say."

Croft said the decline in female caribou, down to 16,604 from 55,593 in 2006, is a serious problem.

"Bottom line is we have to find ways to get more females to return to the calving grounds," he said.

Consultation with stakeholders, including aboriginal groups, will happen over the next few months to look at what is causing the decline and to determine what the next steps will be, according to Miltenberger.

Tlicho Grand Chief Joe Rabesca said he was shocked by the decline, and, along with the three community chiefs from Gameti, Whati and Wekweeti, he has already begun to speak to community members about the severity of the decline. Rabesca said action is needed now, and if it involves limiting aboriginal hunters, then so be it.

"We have to work with this government (the GNWT)," Rabesca said.

On Sept. 8, the Yellowknives Dene cancelled its community hunt.

"We're trying to step in and say, 'Hey, listen, this has gone on too far.' We can't just sit idly by," said Dettah Chief Ed Sangris.

"It was a hard decision. It's one of the things we wrestled with - is this going to be the beginning of the end?"

Miltenberger said the territorial government will be working with the Tlicho government to develop a proposal to put before the Wek'eezhii Renewable Resource Board by October on how to improve the herd.

As for what measures will be taken to improve herd size and health, Miltenberger said some "tough decisions" are going to be made, specifically relating to sport hunting.

"Sport hunting is one of the things that will be dealt with," he said, adding the protection of subsistence hunting is important.

In previous statements, Miltenberger has said if hunting of the herd needs to be restricted, sport hunters would be the first to go.

Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus said his people are concerned they will lose the ability to live off the land, like the aboriginal populations in southern Canada have.

"We're really concerned the same thing will happen to us," Erasmus said, adding game hunting is at the bottom of the list of priorities.

"We all know they want to keep their tags and we're going to have to say, 'Is that practical?'" he said. "The unfortunate thing is someone has to pay the consequence."

There has been debate over whether the Bathurst herd has joined the Ahiak herd, a larger herd which some, particularly sport hunters, believe to be where the Bathurst caribou have gone.

Croft said they have flown regular routes on the East side of Bathurst Inlet, where the declining herd was calving until sometime in the mid 90s.

They found there is almost 250 km between the most dense part of the two herds' calving grounds, an indication they are completely separate.

Croft said based on current information of the Ahiak herd, it is a possible decline and the GNWT plans a full photo survey of the Ahiak herd next year.