World Caribou Day 2026
Theme: Caribou as Ecosystem Engineers
This year, World Caribou Day celebrates caribou as ecosystem engineers. Through their grazing, migrations, and daily movements across forests, mountains, and tundra, caribou help shape the landscapes they inhabit. They influence plant communities, create pathways used by other wildlife, and redistribute nutrients that support entire ecosystems.
This World Caribou Day, we're exploring the many ways caribou help build and maintain healthy ecosystems. Through stories, events, educational resources, and conservation initiatives, discover why protecting caribou means protecting far more than a single species.
World Caribou Day Events
Toronto Zoo
⏰ 10am PST (1pm EST)
📍 On The Toronto Zoo's Facebook page
Celebrate World Caribou Day with an inside look at the care, ecology, and conservation of caribou. Hosted by the Toronto Zoo's Nutrition team, this presentation will highlight what makes caribou unique, the challenges they face in the wild, and how research, animal care, and conservation programs are contributing to their long-term survival.
Arrow Lakes Caribou Society
⏰ 1pm PST (4pm EST)
📍 On Arrow Lakes Caribou Societies Facebook page
Meet the Arrow Lakes Caribou Society and discover how their maternity pen project is helping recover caribou in British Columbia. Learn about the important role caribou play in shaping the ecosystems around them, and how conservation efforts are working to protect not only caribou, but the landscapes and wildlife that depend on them.
World Caribou Day with Arrow Lakes Caribou Society
Celebrate World Caribou Day by exploring the hidden impact of caribou on the natural world. From shaping habitats to supporting other wildlife, caribou play an important role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. This video also takes you behind the scenes of the Arrow Lakes Caribou Society's maternity pen project, showcasing a conservation success story that is helping support the recovery of caribou in British Columbia.
Games and Activities
Lawnmowers
Caribou need healthy forests to survive, but fires are becoming more frequent and intense. In this fast-paced game, race to safety while learning how fire affects caribou and their habitat.
Trail Blazers
Oh no! Something’s not right with our caribou herd. They’re feeling sick, itchy, and tired—and we don’t know why. Their habitat is changing, and we need help to figure out what’s going on.
Migration Movers
Lichen is a caribou’s favourite winter food, but climate change is making it harder for them to find it! Explore the challenges caribou face when snow gets too deep, too icy, or too shallow to access their food.
Snow Digging Survival
The ground in the Arctic is frozen solid—until it’s not! In this game, you’ll be a caribou trying to cross the land as melting permafrost turns your path wobbly and wild.
Maze ? Crossword?
In this maze activity, help your caribou make it through the landscape by finding a safe path through the habitat. Along the way, collect all the things a caribou needs to live and grow. Can you collect 10 pieces of lichen before reaching the finish line?
Artwork by Abigail Roscoe
Abigail is a queer and disabled Canadian illustrator with a love for wildlife and conservation. They hope the love they show for caribou in their work moves people to learn more about them and care more about the remaining herds. During their bachelor's study, Abigail released a children’s book titled “Yuka’s Way Home” that follows Yuka the caribou as he meets reindeer and Sámi people in his new Arctic home. Abigail is currently working on new books, writing a movie, and exhibiting their solo show this year- all these projects tie into themes the artist cares about, such as conservation, and our relationship to the world around us.
Abigail obtained a Design bachelor degree with a focus on illustration and animation. They hope to use their work to raise awareness about endangered species and what we can do to help.
@ab_roscoe