Tlicho gov't says its members won't hunt Bathurst caribou

The Tlicho Government says its members won't hunt Bathurst caribouduring the 2015-16 hunting season.

The announcementcomes on the heels of survey results released in September that show the herd has declined in population by about one third since 2012 from 32,000 animals down to between 16,000 and 22,000.

The Bathurst caribou herd is currently protected from hunting by a mobile conservation area, a no-hunting zone established around the core of the herd early this year. But the territorial government has allowed alimited harvest of up to 15 caribou bullsfor"ceremonial" purposes. Groups with traditional rights, such as the Tlicho, couldsubmit a proposal to the territorial government for the right to hunt a bull.

In Tuesday's release, Tlicho Grand Chief Eddie Erasmus says that his government has "made this difficult choice as an investment in our future and we as a people need to do this."

Michael Miltenberger, the territory's minister of Environment and Natural Resources, said his government applauds"theTlichoGovernment for showing strong leadership in dealing with this crisis.

"It is a very tough choice that recognizes the need for strong actions to conserve the Bathurst herd for current and future generations."