Labrador caribou kill brings few charges

Just one hunter has been charged in the illegal slaughter of about half of a protected caribou herd in Labrador, CBC News has learned.

In March 2009, dozens of Innu hunters from Quebec travelled to the Joir River area of Labrador and hunted caribou. The Newfoundland and Labrador government prohibits hunting in the area.

Officials said about 50 animals in the Joir River area were killed in last year's hunt.

Hunting in that area of central Labrador is forbidden because it is also home to the endangered Red Wine caribou herd, which mingle with other caribou species.

Wildlife officials were ordered not to have direct contact with the hunters last year, on grounds of safety, which made collecting evidence in the case difficult.

Quebec Innu have argued that their traditional rights have been ignored and have made several provocative moves against Newfoundland and Labrador in recent months.

Earlier this year, in a separate hunt in western Labrador, Quebec Innu leaders have said they were wrongfully excluded from a benefits agreement involving Labrador Innu and the government over hydroelectric power.

Natural Resources Minister Kathy Dunderdale is not commenting on the hunt, citing an ongoing investigation.

So far, just one person — a resident of La Romaine, Que. — has been charged: on one count of killing a threatened species and another for possessing a specimen of an endangered species.

Because a one-year limitation has passed, it is too late to lay more charges.

The Newfoundland and Labrador government said the evidence it had collected was not good enough to support more charges. It has been relying on photographs taken from a helicopter that maintained surveillance in the area.

Meanwhile, the government said it has bought a camera with a longer zoom lens and better stabilization.

The dispute ended last year when the Quebec hunters, who have also disputed Newfoundland and Labrador's caribou count, returned home.