Muskox health monitoring in the Canadian Arctic (NGMP ID EC07)

Recent events have raised concern about the health status of free-ranging muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) in the Canadian Arctic, particularly in the Arctic Archipelago (Banks and Victoria Islands in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut) where population declines, multiple mortalities, and emergence of new diseases are occurring. This might have dire consequences, not only from the species conservation perspective, but also regarding the importance of muskoxen for the Northern ecosystem and as source of food and income for Inuit communities.Our work aims to evaluate the health of muskoxen and develop a health surveillance framework for ongoing health monitoring and disease detection. Additionally, our work will provide a data repository for different health and genetic traits as well as diseases in muskoxen of the Canadian North. In order to do this, we established a muskox sampling program in partnership with outfitters and the Hunters and Trappers Organizations in Ikaluktutiak, Ulukhaktok and Kugluktuk.