More than 300 caribou have drowned while attempting to cross the Caniapiscau River near Limestone Falls. Barriers, erected on the east side of the river after 10,000 caribou drowned at the same site in 1984, failed to keep the animals from herding into the water on the west side October 8 and 9.
The Kuujjuaq Municipal Corporation has installed temporary barriers to prevent more caribou from drowning.
The Makivik Corporation is currently working with the municipality and other related organizations to assess the funds needed to clean up the dead animals and install and repair the barriers on the banks of the Caniapiscau.
The KMC and the Makivik Corporation will ask the Quebec government to finance the work. Recent heavy rains contributing to the high water levels of the river are believed to have caused the drownings.
