Quebec reports birth of more than a dozen new caribou fawns

A caribou grazes on Baffin Island in a 2008 file photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Kike Calvo via AP Images

MONTREAL — The Quebec government says the number of caribou in captivity has grown since May following the birth of more than a dozen new fawns.

Officials from the Quebec environment ministry are overseeing three herds of caribou in captivity, as part of efforts to help protect the species.

Woodland caribou are threatened in Canada, mainly due to human activity.

In Quebec, the government says two of the three captive herds welcomed 16 new fawns this season, bringing the total number of caribou in captivity to 75.

The Val-d’Or herd, which is located about 500 kilometres northwest of Montreal and is the smallest herd at only seven caribou, did not grow this year.

Three fawns born in Charlevoix did not survive and two pregnant caribou in Gaspésie also died.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2026.

Marieke Glorieux-Stryckman, The Canadian Press