Igloolik man charged with illegally hunting Baffin Island caribou

An Igloolik, Nunavut, man is facing two Nunavut Wildlife Act charges for illegally hunting caribou on Baffin Island last year two months after a hunting ban was declared.

Court documents allege Michael Irngaut, 24, hunted caribou aroundNeergaard Lake towardthe northern end of the island in February 2015.

At the beginning of 2015,the territory placed a moratorium on hunting Baffin Island caribou.At the time, Nunavut's Environment Minister called it an "urgent situation" to protect the sustainability of Baffin Island caribou.

Thehunting ban lastedseven monthsbefore theNunavutgovernmentallowed a harvest of 250 male caribou on Baffin Island, to be taken mostly from the central and southern areasof the island.

Irngaut is facing two charges including illegally harvesting and possessing wildlife.He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to be back in court Aug. 8.

If convicted, Irngautcouldfacea fine of up to $500,000 or up tosix months jail time.

Caribou population declining

The Baffin Island caribou population has been plummeting since the 1990s.

An aerial survey in 2012 found about 5,000 caribou on Baffin Island, a decrease of up to 95 per cent from population estimates inthe early 1990s, which ranged from about 60,000 to 180,000.

During the 2015winter sitting ofNunavut'slegislature, thenEnvironment Minister Johnny Mike indicatedmore tags to hunt caribou would becomeavailablepending information provided by theQikiqtaalukWildlife Board.