Directed by: Caitlin Bodewitz | Produced by: Locke Stock Creative
Saving the Last Caribou Herd
Caribou were once one of Canada’s most widespread wildlife species, found wandering over 80% of the country's landscape. Today, their populations are plummeting with many herds at the immediate risk of extirpation, localized extinction.
Tucked away in the mountain ranges of northern British Columbia, on traditional Treaty 8 Territory, two 2 First Nation communities partnered with leading Ecologists to bring the Klinse-Za Caribou herd back from the brink of extinction. The synergy of traditional knowledge and science has evolved into the boldest and most successful conservation effort in Canada to save the Caribou.
Artist Caitlin Bodewitz was honored to meet the 4 legged and 2 legged members of this project and bring their story back into her studio. She then partnered with Videographer Locke Vincent to give you a glimpse into the world of the Caribou and her creation process.
This is a story about resilience and hope. Join us in a critical conversation around conservation and feel inspired to take action to protect our sacred and fragile planet.
“They have a right to exist".” - Caribou Guardian Julian Napoleon
Woodland Caribou Facts:
Different from the Barren-Ground Caribou who live on the tundra and migrate.
They depend on areas of old growth, lichen-rich forests.
Caribou are a vital part of Indigenous culture; traditionally used for food, clothing, and tools
Their historic range stretches from BC to Newfoundland and Labrador. The Selkirk herd once crossed the BC border into the US but sadly the herd went extinct in 2018.
Estimated population decline has fallen 80% in 20 years
The Klinse-Za herd was predicted to be extinct by 2015
Main Threats:
Habitat loss due to industrial and human development, specifically disturbances and fragmentation to the Boreal Forest.
Predator highways as a result of development. Features like roads, seismic lines, and snowmobile trails create easy access for predators to move easier and quickly.
Climate Change.
“Humans have created the threat to the Caribou, we are morally obligated to do something to help the species.”
- Scott McNay, Wildlife Infometrics Ecologist
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A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Caribou conservation efforts.
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Learn more from the impactful journalism of The Narwhal:
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The caribou guardians
In a quiet pen in B.C.’s northeast corner, pregnant caribou cows and their calves are fed hand-picked old growth lichen, provided 24-hour armed security and are the subject of one of Canada’s boldest and most experimental efforts to save a species from extinction
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Up close with BC's endangered baby caribou
In 2014, with just 16 caribou remaining in the Klinse-Za herd, Saulteau First Nations and West Moberly First Nations decided to take matters into their own hands, building a pen for pregnant cows atop a remote mountain. Six years later, the herd is up to 95 caribou, including eight calves born in the pen this year. Photographer Ryan Dickie visited the maternity enclosure for The Narwhal to meet the newest caribou calves.
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BC partners with First Nations to create new park
A new deal signed by the federal and provincial governments and West Moberly and Saulteau First Nations will see the creation of a new Indigenous Guardians program that will monitor six at-risk caribou herds in the Peace region, which is ground zero for resource development in the province.