Natural History Wanderings

Center for Biological Diversity News Release

Reindeer Population Wins Endangered Species Protection in Time for Holida

Herd at Risk of Extinction Following 75% Decline over Four Years

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protected the Dolphin and Union caribou today as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. This specific population of barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) — also known as reindeer — inhabits the Arctic regions of Canada’s northern territories. The endangered listing restricts trade in Dolphin and Union caribou in the United States.

Dolphin and Union caribou are threatened primarily by climate change and hunting pressure. The population must cross sea ice to migrate from its wintering grounds to calving grounds on Victoria Island. Tragically, caribou have fallen through the ice during this migration because of inadequate sea-ice formation.

Read more  Reindeer Population Wins Endangered Species Protection in Time for Holidays – Center for Biological Diversity