Caribou Caribou
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Caribou Migration Update: June 11, 2003

Today's Report Includes:


This Week’s Caribou Migration
Caribou Migration Map
Click on Map to Enlarge
Go Lupine! A quick look at today’s map and you will notice that the spring migration has finally been completed, except maybe for Lupine (the pink dot) and the animals she is traveling with. Perhaps Lupine and her yearling calf aren’t as anxious as the pregnant cows to make it to the calving grounds. What other situations might she be encountering to keep her behind the rest of the caribou cows?

 


Special: Karsten and Leanne Reach Calving Grounds!
A news release came to Journey North headquarters recently with the latest from Karsten and Leanne. Having traveled with the Porcupine caribou on their migration since April 1, 2003, they were delighted to have reached the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Here is an excerpt from the June 5, 2003 news release:

...They are looking south into the Brooks Range on what Karsten describes as “the most beautiful day we’ve had.” It’s 10:39 pm and they’re watching the sun set. They’ve been held hostage in their tent for the past six days -held hostage by the caribou giving birth all around them.
“It’s more exciting than I can describe,” he says. “The caribou don’t come much closer to us than 50 metres, but they are giving birth all around us. We’re watching them be born. We can see the umbilical cords; we can see them taking their first steps. All around us the calves are frolicking, trying out their new legs. Moments ago, one calf, careening out of control, came to a full stop in front of the tent, looked directly at me in the tent door and careened off again. I only hope my camera was working because boy, he was cute."

Caribou travel through the last of the spring snows to the coastal plain
caribou_frost06 caribou_frost05 caribou_frost04

Stay tuned to this amazing adventure to learn more about the annual lives and migrations of the Porcupine caribou. Their trip is only half over, so join them this summer at:


This is the final Porcupine caribou Migration Update. Thanks, and see you next season!

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