Tuktu

Tuktu is the Inuktitut word for caribou, referring to the wild reindeer populations of the Arctic and subarctic. In Inuit communities across Canada, Greenland, and Alaska, tuktu is a central term in language and culture, distinguishing these animals from other game and from domesticated reindeer found in other regions. The scientific name for caribou is Rangifer tarandus, with several subspecies recognized across its circumpolar range.

Caribou are highly migratory herbivores that undertake long seasonal journeys between their winter lichen-rich feeding grounds and summer habitat. They form large herds that can span vast areas and are known for their seasonal migrations, which vary by herd and region. Their diet shifts with the seasons, including lichens in winter and grasses, leaves, and aquatic plants in the warmer months. Antlers are typically shed annually by both males and females after the breeding season in many populations, though timing varies.

Culturally, tuktu has long been a staple for Inuit peoples, providing meat, hides for clothing and shelter, sinew for sewing and rope, and other materials essential for daily life in the Arctic environment. The annual cycle of caribou hunts often influences community planning, food security, and traditional knowledge transmission.

Threats to tuktu populations come from climate change, habitat disruption, and industrial development in Arctic regions. Some herds are stable, while others have declined or fluctuated due to altering vegetation, ice conditions, and predation pressures. Conservation and management efforts frequently emphasize Indigenous knowledge and co-management with local and national authorities to sustain caribou populations and the communities that depend on them.