Poaching investigated in threatened caribou herds

Caribou officials are investigating the slaughter of 39 animals in threatened caribou herds in southern Labrador.

Three separate poaching incidents within the last two months are now under investigation, authorities said Monday.

Five animals were taken at Birchy Lake from the Mealy herd, which is already near extinction.

As well, 15 animals were killed from a Joir River herd, which has just over 100 animals.

The latest incident— a slaughter of 19 animals from the threatened Lac Joseph herd— appalled conservation officers, as only the best cuts of meat were taken from the animals.

"This flagrant disregard for conservation will have a significant impact on the ability of these herds to recover and is a loss for everyone," Natural Resources Minister Kathy Dunderdale said in a statement.

Dunderdale appealed for help from residents of Labrador and along Quebec's North Shore for aid in catching poachers.

"Together we can put a stop to this activity," she said.