Yukon recovery project captures rare footage of caribou survival on Kwanlin Dün First Nation territory

In a remarkable display of wildlife resilience, Yukon-based photographer Peter Mather has captured rare footage of a bull caribou surviving a life-threatening antler entanglement south of Whitehorse. The images, taken in early October, document a surviving bull from the Ibex herd that remained attached to a deceased rival after their antlers became locked during the rut. Working on assignment for the Southern Lakes Caribou Recovery Plan and the Kwanlin Dün First Nation, Mather spent 10 days in the high mountains of the First Nation's traditional territory. He initially discovered the pair after noticing aggressive behaviour from nearby bears. Using a drone to investigate, Mather found the living bull defending itself against predators while still joined to the carcass of the other caribou. Over the course of four days, Mather observed a natural cycle of scavenging as foxes, ravens, golden eagles, and eventually a pack of wolves fed on the remains. This process eventually lightened the load for the surviving bull, allowing it to move away. Mather described the moment as the predators effectively freeing the caribou, which was seen walking away carrying only the remains of the other's head and antlers. Lars Jessup, a biologist with the Southern Lakes Caribou Recovery Project, told CBC News that while antler locking is known to occur during the mating season, it is rare for one animal to survive the ordeal. Jessup noted that the bull is likely to shed its antlers naturally by December, which would fully unburden the animal before the harshest winter months. The footage serves as a testament to the ongoing monitoring and recovery efforts within the traditional territories of the Southern Lakes region.