Collection: Newfoundland Caribou

The Newfoundland woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus terraenovae ) is a unique subspecies, endemic to the island of Newfoundland, but relevant in a broader interprovincial conservation context. This caribou is distinguished by its relative tolerance of fragmented habitats and its more reduced migratory behavior. Despite this, its populations have declined dramatically since the 1990s, due to habitat loss, increased predation, and human disturbance. Quebec and Newfoundland share similar challenges in woodland caribou management: forest fragmentation, logging roads, industrial development, and climate change. Protecting this caribou requires coordinated monitoring, research, and habitat restoration. The story of the Newfoundland woodland caribou serves as a warning to the rest of the country and illustrates the urgent need to act to preserve boreal wildlife. It is a sentinel of the fragile balance of eastern Canadian forests.