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MAY 29, 2001

The conservation officer for the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation of Canada says the Porcupine caribou is in danger if the herd doesn't make it to the the traditional calving place in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

Darius Kassi said the herd is still south of the Porcupine River and is waiting for a safe time to cross. But if calves are born before then, they face death because they usually can't cross the river safely.

Last year, about 15,000 calves died in their first month, representing a mortality rate of 44 percent.

The coastal plain is the area targeted by the Bush administration for oil and gas development.

Get the Story:
Bad year for caribou (AP 5/29)

Relevant Links:
Arctic Slope Regional Corp - http://www.asrc.com
Gwich'in Steering Committee - http://www.alaska.net/~gwichin
Oil Issues in ANWR, US Fish and Wildlife - http://arctic.fws.gov/issues1.html
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, US Fish and Wildlife Service - http://arctic.fws.gov
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Pro-Development site - http://www.anwr.org

Related Stories:
Norton: Indian Country won't get ripped off (5/24)
Natives square off over Arctic drilling (5/18)