Dwindling caribou population being moved off Michipicoten Island by air

The first seven caribouhave been relocated fromMichipicotenIsland, Ont., 130 kilometres north to Slate Islands.

The work is being conducted bythe Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

In an email to CBC news, MNRF spokesperson JolantaKowalski says more of the animals are expected to be relocated Monday.

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The nearby community of Michipicoton First Nation has been concerned about the caribou on the island since last spring.

That's because the population is being wiped out by wolves, who crossed to the island on a rare ice bridge a few winters ago.

Activists had been calling on the province to intervene and last month, the lands and resources consultation coordinator with the first nation, Leo Lepiano, said the ministry's action came after extensive lobbying.

"It is very unfortunate that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry allowed the situation to get to the point where the translocation of caribou is required," he told CBCNews in December.

"Michipicoten First Nation requested the non-lethal removal of the wolves as early as April 10, 2017. Unfortunately, that option was definitively ruled out in November."