The GNWT has released the new population estimate for the Bathurst and Bluenose-East barren-ground caribou herds. These estimates are based on calving ground surveys conducted in June 2025, combined with herd composition surveys completed in late October 2025.

2025 Population Survey Results:

Bluenose-East Herd:

The new 2025 Bluenose-East herd population estimate is 28,759 adult caribou, which is lower than the 2023 estimate of 39,525 adult caribou. The 2025 estimate, though lower than the 2023 estimate, remains higher than the 2021 estimate of 23,202 adult caribou.

Bathurst Herd:

The new 2025 Bathurst herd population estimate of 3,609 adult caribou is lower than the 2022 herd estimate of 6,851 adult caribou. This represents a decline of 47% percent over three years. This decline is concerning, given all the efforts of the GNWT and our co-management partners to reduce pressures on this herd through a range of management actions.

In addition to estimates of herd size, the Department of Environment and Climate Change also collects a range of information on key demographic rates, including pregnancy rates and survival rates for calves, cows, and bulls.  These factors, along with potential movement of caribou between herds, influence whether a herd is increasing or decreasing. Further work is ongoing to continue to investigate the role of other factors in influencing herd trends for the Bathurst and Bluenose-East herds.

Caribou Management:

The management of the Bathurst and Bluenose-East herds is guided by the Bathurst Caribou Management Plan and the Taking Care of Caribou Plan, respectively. These plans were developed collaboratively by Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, Renewable Resource Boards, and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

The GNWT will meet with co-management partners over the coming weeks and months to review these results and discuss next steps to protect the herds.

Next Steps

The GNWT will continue to update co-management partners and the public as more information becomes available. Letters have been shared with Indigenous governments and organizations that harvest from these herds.

The GNWT will complete additional modelling and analysis which will provide important context to the survey results, and will continue to work collaboratively with Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations and other co-management partners to consider the results and how they will inform ongoing herd recovery efforts going forward. 

Further communications, including technical summaries and survey reports, will be made available once they are available and following discussions with co-management partners.

Quote

“Caribou are central to our people, culture, and identity. While the results of our recent population surveys are concerning, we remain focused on working closely with our co-management partners, Indigenous governments, and communities to ensure that decisions about these herds are guided by sound science, traditional knowledge, and shared responsibility. Together we are committed to strengthening conservation efforts and increase the numbers of these precious animals, tied so closely to the life in North.”

- Jay Macdonald, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
 

Related links

• Taking Care of Caribou: Management Plan for Bluenose-West, Bluenose-East, and Cape Bathurst Barren-Ground Caribou Herds
• Bathurst Caribou Management Plan
• Bathurst Caribou Range Plan
• Barren-Ground Caribou Population Surveys

For media requests, please contact:
Environment and Climate Change
Government of the Northwest Territories
ECC_Communications@gov.nt.ca