Abstract

Since the 1960's climatic variation has been the main explanation for the large fluctuations observed in the numbers of caribou on the west coast of Greenland. However, these claims have been derived from a non-quantitative and uncritical examination of trading an hunting records. When examined critically, it becomes evident that harvest data could not have reflected natural variation in population size, as the level of harvest could only have been sustainable if the populations existed at unrealistically high densities. An alternative explanation of the dramatic fluctuations is that overexploitation by the indigenous population may also explain much of the variation in harvest records. Such a change of view may have wide implications for the local wildlife managers if they aim to minimise the potential negative effects of climatic events and achieve a sustainable harvest of this important wildlife resource.