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SUMMARYMacroparasites potentially play a significant but often ignored role in the ecology and dynamics of wild ruminant populations. In the Arctic, parasites may impact on host populations by exacerbating the effects of seasonal and limited forage availability on the condition, fecundity and survival of individuals. We studied the effects of abomasal nematode parasites and warble flies, Hypoderma tarandi, on condition and pregnancy of caribou Rangifer tarandusin the Dolphin-Union herd, Nunavut, Canada. By the end of winter, female caribou over 2 years old showed a significant decrease in body weight with increasing nematode burden, and a decrease in back fat depth with increasing warble abundance. These effects were exaggerated in the non-pregnant fraction of the population. High warble larvae burdens were also associated with significantly reduced probability of being pregnant. Our research demonstrates a negative relationship between parasites and caribou condition that may have consequences for their fitness. Additionally, we discuss the possibility that muskox Ovibos moschatusshare some parasite species with the caribou and could lead to elevated burdens in the sympatric host. Parasites may have been a contributory factor in a previous winter range-shift of the caribou herd and this may reflect a form of apparent competition between the two ungulate species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the threatened woodland caribou in Alberta. Establishment of a no-hunting corridor along the highway to prevent hunters from shooting caribou they mistakenly identify as elk; Impact of forest degradation on the primary food source of caribous; Decline in the caribou population due to habitat disruption and loss; Conservation efforts the woodland caribou.

Reports on Alberta's woodland caribous which are in danger of extinction as their habitat disappears. Decrease in population since the 1800s; Industrial activities endangering the caribous; Efforts of Jan Edmonds to protect the caribou; Conservation groups' lobbying of government.

The article examines endangered and threatened species in Canada, including the Woodland Caribou, Little Brown Bats and North Atlantic Right Whales.

The article provides information on hunting woodland caribou in Alaska. The annual migration of caribou herds across the Alaskan tundra is the greatest wildlife show on the continent since the last of the buffalo trekked across the Comanche prairies. The game commission has shortened the hunting season, reduced the bag limit and closed the areas along the migration routes were some of the heavy killings were formerly done. Selecting a head is the most difficult part of caribou hunting.

The article offers the author's insights on environmental management and protection in Manitoba. The author relates the story of Victor Bruce, an elder of the Popular River First Nation who of is pointing on the trees in the boreal forest of the country where migrating songbirds and woodland caribou hide. She states that Bruce and other elders in the area became are their inspiration to continue to protect their land.

The article details the three-year study to be conducted by University of Alberta's biology researchers Craig DeMars and Stan Boutin to find ways to lower the risk of predation of woodland caribou during the calving season in Canada. The project will involve fitting the female caribou with radio collars to monitor their movements during the calving and neonate periods. The project has received 30,000 Canadian dollars from the Canadian Wildlife Federation's Endangered Species Fund.

The article offers information on several researches and findings. Topics discussed include transportation of woodland caribou to prevent their extinction, researches showing presence of lungs in living coelacanths, male species of wasps being behead by parasitic male fig wasps, and high risk of domestic violence with women married to polygamous alcoholic husbands in Ghana, Malaysia and Kenya.

This article discusses how retail company Victoria's Secret may be destroying the habitat of the caribou in Canada in order to create its catalogs. Victoria's Secret, the U.S. purveyor of much bodacious lingerie, is struggling to assuage critics who accuse it of contributing to the demise in Canada of the threatened woodland caribou. Victoria's Secret prints and mails, on average, well over one million catalogues a day to promote its form-enhancing women's undergarments, sleepwear and clothing. But according to ForestEthics, a San Francisco-based environmental watchdog, about 25 percent of the paper in those catalogues comes from trees felled in Canada's virgin boreal forest, where the caribou live. Last fall, ForestEthics launched a cheeky ad campaign dubbed "Victoria's Dirty Secret." Featuring an arresting photo of a woman in a black merry widow wielding a chainsaw, it calls on the public to pressure the company to stop using paper from endangered forests, to use more recycled paper, and to stop publishing so many catalogues. Anthony Hebron, spokesman for Limited Brands, the Columbus, Ohio-based parent company of Victoria's Secret, says its catalogue practices are changing.

Presents an article on deer hunting in Newfoundland. Description of woodland caribou found in the area; Experiences in hunting a bull; Equipment used in hunting.

The article reports on the increasing numbers of the Porcupine caribou herd, which is known for their migration along the Porcupine River from North West Territory to Alaska, as a result of the collaboration between wildlife officials and communities, combined with population dynamics.

This section offers news briefs on wildlife conservation including Environment Canada declaring the release of a draft plan for the recovery of the woodland caribou, the government of Alberta, Canada adding 1,000 hectares of new land to Writing-on-Stone provincial park, and accidental sea turtle deaths in the U.S. caused by entanglements decreasing by about 90 percent from 1990 to 2011.

The article presents world news briefs current during the week of April 27, 2009. The United States announced that U.S. president Barack Obama had ordered a change in policy toward Cuba. Sitara Achakzai, an Afghan women's rights activist and political figure, was assassinated. Environment Canada, the Canadian government environmental agency, announced a significant decrease in the number of woodland caribou.

The article provides information on the woodland caribou, which is considered by scientists as the most endangered mammal in the U.S. There are only 41 of the species living in the country, while 1,900 live in British Columbia. The woodland caribou has been protected under the Endangered Species Act since 1984. A coalition of environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service to keep snowmobiles off 300,000 acres of federal land that serves as habitat for the species. The ruling on the case was modified to approve a plan allowing snowmobile access to important parts of the recovery zone.

The article reports that the Canadian Environment Minister Rona Ambrose has been served with petitions to step in to recommend that Alberta save two endangered plants as well as the province's boreal population of woodland caribou or face additional lawsuits by conservation groups. An internal audit commissioned by Environment Canada uncovered serious discrepancies, such as funds allocated to species at risk being diverted to unrelated programs.

The article presents information on the works of three habitat conservationist in the United States. Mark Sprengel of Idaho is fighting to protect the last tiny herd of woodland caribou in the Selkirk Range. Brock Richardson of Utah has been raising wild Bonneville cutthroats--a rare subspecies--in coolers for three years. Sandy Moret of Islamorada, Florida, has inserted tags into hundreds of fish, providing insight into their biology.

The article reports on the legal petition filed by the Sierra Legal Defence Fund to request for the federal government to issue an emergency order under the Species at Risk Act to save the remaining woodland caribou and their habitat in Alberta. The filing of the said petition is made possible from the collaboration of various environmentalist groups in the country. The petition emphasizes that many herds of caribou are facing imminent extinction and fewer than 3,000 caribou are left in the area. According to a current study, caribou will be eradicated within 40 years if industrial development will proceed as planned.

The article presents information on various developments related to environmental protection. It informs that the development projects in boreal forests are pushing woodland caribou out of their habitat Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society has launched a campaign against this. The project can cause the species at risk of extinction. The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition has called upon the UN General Assembly to place an immediate moratorium on deep sea trawling, which has been identified as a threat to the fragile marine ecosystem. Pembina Institute is offering PC users an opportunity to buy Wind Power Certificates as part of the institute's promotion of wind-powered energy.

Focuses on efforts to bring back the woodland caribou in Maine. Use of test animals to increase the subspecies; Creation of breeding area for the animals; Elimination of brain parasites which caused the death of caribous.

Reports on the rewards each offered by the National Audubon Society and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for the arrest of poachers of the endangered woodland caribou in the U.S. in the 1980s. Threat posed by poaching and hunting activities on the endangered animal; Conservation and protection efforts for the endangered animal; Implications on nature conservation and protection.