NunatuKavut suspends caribou hunting

Another aboriginal group is taking steps to preserve the George River caribou herd in Labrador.

The NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC), formerly known as the Labrador Métis Nation, said it is suspending all hunting of caribou to help the herd rebound.

In essence, the council's hunting guidelines and permits will be shelved for one year.

The herd has declined drastically over the past 20 years, numbering over 800,000 in the late 1980s.

Today, it's estimated there are less than 30,000.

"This will be the first time in about 40 years that I won't be able to hunt caribou," said NCC vice-president and hunter Jim Holwell. "I do believe we have to take these steps to help protect what is left of the George River caribou."

In addition to suspending its hunt, the NunatuKavut council is calling on the provincial governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec to implement more stringent measures.

The Nunatisavut government, which represents Labrador Inuit, has also called on its members to stop hunting for the good of the caribou herd.