Being Caribou

In this feature-length documentary, husband and wife team Karsten Heuer (wildlife biologist) and Leanne Allison (environmentalist) follow a herd of 120,000 caribou on foot across 1500 km of Arctic tundra. In following the herd's migration, the couple hopes to raise awareness of the threats to the caribou's survival. Along the way they brave Arctic weather, icy rivers, hordes of mosquitoes and a very hungry grizzly bear. Dramatic footage and video diaries combine to provide an intimate perspective of an epic expedition.
Directed by Leanne Allison, Diana Wilson - 2004 | 72 min
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[@SongOfTheSoul63]

Beautiful film! And a fascinating examination of the Arctic lifecycle through the lens of a caribou herd. Brilliant initiative and feat. Kudos to Leanne and Karsten!!

[@rewildbody5261]

So many take aways, “Safety is not a part of the wild-ness.” And “Tracking the shifting winds”. What an inspired story.

[@britd0g]

Great work and a grand adventure, folks. Eye-opening and moving.

[@LivingWithScience82]

You did a fantastic and epic journey that you will carry with you the rest of your lives. Great hardship in sharing your self and your and their pain with animals who have immense hardship in their lives is very spiritual and moving. Great Job...!!

[@jannie690]

Stunning. Thank you for doing this

[@joystream]

I have to say this tops my list for the most amazing thing I've ever seen. Thank you beyond measure Karsten and Leanne. Through you I got to experience a touch of that journey you took. It touched me deeply. I've lived in Yukon for 32yrs. Bless you both, thank you so much.

[@asliuf]

Karsten and Leanne, thank you for sharing this unbelievable voyage with us.

[@YiannisPho]

A true gem of a documentary. Despite their very young age, Karsten Heuer and Leanne Allison, besides being highly articulate, clever, often humorous, they show wisdom well beyond their years. It was as enjoyable to watch the caribou in their long migration across the Arctic tundra, as to watch and listen to this young couple's impressions, thoughts, and reactions. As for George W. Bush's forced witnessing of this trip: a very clever touch. Glad to see that he got lost in Washington D.C., and never to be seen there again. (I hope this holds true for all members of the dynasty.)

[@facfortiaetpatere4287]

I thought this was a lovely film , very personal and heartfelt , thank you for sharing it !

[@ricepirates15]

Thank you.

[@Whatismyusername100]

I have so much admiration for these two. What an unbelievably inspirational trip! Great film!

[@evaszakacs8057]

Thank you, the book and documentary well done. Thank you for such a hard work to save the caribous life and wild nature. May your spark never fade away.

[@nfb]

This film, along with MANY others, are available on NFB.ca as well. Come on over and take a look... :)

[@pedrocampos691]

Ice Age Of The Alaskan animals.

[@pauldodson2018]

Beautiful documentary. I hunt and have always seen the value of total of conservation. Thank you! -Paul

[@dave23532]

Extraordinary.

[@cruxmusique]

lovely! :) Walking is awesome

[@HallounNizar]

Thanks!

[@brackishful]

I found this hoping to learn about caribou migration instead after 30 minutes I gave up because what I learned was everything about the 2 film makers and their journey to find the caribou and nothing about the caribou im disappointed.

[@musicfan28]

The Caribou Population of Canada is estimated around 1 million animal , in northern Alberta and Qc the population is growing very fast.

[@hotspur666]

A million? Several! A few year back, a herd of a million was sucked in rapids of the Koksoak river in Quebec. The population explode in cycles then collapse..that for as far back as records were kept.

[@musicfan28]

It was many years back tsince this terrible accident happened ...but in 2013 the Canadian population is a bit over 1 million and in many areas in the country Caribou population is under protection .

[@inorganic]

This is wonderful! I've been wanting to see this film for a very long time.

[@judithw7073]

ich bin so begeistert so ein Mut I love you for thisVideo

[@HeadofIbis]

Sweet, amazing people, and a wonderful film. Thank you for your excellent work and stay safe.

[@松田もしくろす]

Regardless on which side of the fence your camp lies, you can't help but admire this couple's resolve at getting a glimpse, some insight, and first-hand experience at how the caribou live and die. Perhaps there are those with more biological knowledge on the best ways to preserve these animals, but we didn't see them. Either way, the ecosystem, as it exists, seemed priceless and one worth not disturbing. Maybe tractors and other oil type infrastructure could co-exist with wildlife but at the expense of disrupting the landscape's view. Whenever business interest seeks to harvest whatever the earth has to give, it should always do so with the firm intent of leaving the land in much better condition than when it was found. Only then will so called "eco-hippies" become less prone to fear about such industries. Since it seldom happens I totally understand their concern and the concern of this couple.

[@zets13]

Great documentary. Thanks

[@TheNfields260]

great documentary! I bet it was surreal coming into the big city after an epic trip you have accomplished.

[@JackRabbitInnovation]

In other parts of the world, reindeer are domesticated(in a manner of speaking) and are accompanied on these migrations by deer herders. They also train certain members of the herd as draught animals. The herders keep the deer compact enough as to minimize exposure to predation. Doing this allows for larger herds since it promotes growth in the herd while maintaining a relatively stable food source for predators. They also use them for dairy. My questions would be; how difficult would it be to train caribou as draught animals and then to use that mode of transportation instead of skis to keep up with them? Probably seem more natural to the wild animals as well. Also any thoughts on the herding/predation relationship?

[@MrPjpmunar]

Nature has it's own way of healing itself...

[@Jefferdaughter]

Those cows are not ignoring the calves running around. Like most grazing herbivores, they can see all around them while they are grazing. This documentary is beautiful, and well done. But it is also a reminder that it is not easy for us humans to set aside our viewpoints, our ideas of how things 'should be', or what life is like for another creature so different from us. Or even for another human, really.

[@richardjacobs2000]

walking on packed caribou trails is like waking on a log, ski......

[@KimNguyenfromSacramento]

That doll is hilarious

[@rigocarranza3588]

that's a very very nice documentary 👍

[@HigherStateOfYou]

Anyone know if the economic changes took place there? I'm having a hard time remembering exactly what the project was.

[@patrickkraemer8905]

Can oil wells and caribou coexist like deer and oil wells coexist elsewhere?

[@richardjacobs2000]

Patrick Kraemer deer dont coexist with oil wells. yeah u see wintering deer and elk in and around wells, but herds here in colorado post oil and gas development, mostly in winter range, have drastically reduced herd sizes.

[@grizzlycountry1030]

Yes they can. Populations of deer, elk, mule deer, caribou, antelope, etc elsewhere have not been affected my drilling for oil or mining for that matter.

[@Zapton5]

It's funny how the pieces of the puzzle are not missed tell it's complete. And your left looking at the holes. All because you couldn't be bothered to pay attention to what you was doing.

[@mikemullany]

amazing

[@vanlevey1568]

This was an incredible journey. I love that they took their story to the white house to change people's opinions!

[@newearthroot]

Thank you so much for making this film. It was posted in 2010 and I don't kow how things went afterwards. Where can I find updates of your work with the caribou and on Washington? Your film will not go in vain. Wishing you much courage to continue.

[@chaostricized1312]

I just went to a presentation by Karsten Heuer, the husband of this couple that did the trek. There has been no action by American government on designating the calving area as a protected area. Oil and gas companies are pushing harder now to be allowed access and Trump has pushed forward to open that area up. Fortunately that decision is being met with a lot of opposition by the public and government officials.

[@taeagustin123]

Nice.!

[@Smokingfeatherwalks]

Simply amazing, and tragic.

[@kevinpierce4061]

seems like ya'll coulda really used some bear bangers and a rifle around 36:40

[@TheMikewalking]

Been to ANWR five times. It's not that expensive.

[@kipper9933]

I lova dem der caribou

[@nancyvail7631]

Now...9 years lAter they are almost extinct...how sad

[@munyaradzimukwada8828]

Only idiots would think that this couple is crazy. Nice documentary.

[@juniperabbott2614]

I wonder what happened to George? Good teacher, yes we need our elders.

[@noonperhaps8298]

Kind even in film making, here in America, no producers would ever offer a place to watch films for free!

[@jaxystarr7108]

so these people can literally stalk these animals but the bear are outta line for stalking the couple

[@MenengaiCrater]

The arrogance of human beings is such. I wonder what mother nature has in store for human beings for being such assholes for so long

[@something.icantrememberany1365]

Keep in mind that the humans pose no threat to the caribou(at least not from their perspective), while the bears do come disconcertingly close and are likely looking for food, after all.

[@xiaoliu5467]

Yoooo, why did you took a picture of karsten naked.

[@mayapur1979]

nice

[@thomascarmichael1471]

According to 2017 counts the Porcupine heard is at a record high. That said, there is a balance between oil exploration and wildlife conservation. There were dire predictions in putting in the pipeline. There is historical lessons to be learned and the biggest in my opinion is balance and cautious progress.

[@pedrocampos691]

Ok yeah okk yep okay cool for your study be of with Prehistoric Beasts mammoth Journey.

[@juniperabbott2614]

They're still trying to destroy.

[@not2tees]

The GwiTCHIN people.

[@tepeassydac]

So...caribou are an under-utilized food source being threatened by an industry on the decline in part of the world where people don't live? Huh?

[@4fuzzybear]

If these muffins really did care, they would NOT use there car, or there camera or there cloths, etc etc etc. Take oil out of there life, and the caribou would look mighty tasty. "hippycritts"

[@TheNfields260]

i would have took a "zero" day at the research shelter!

[@celiashen5490]

At some point, I spot the George W. Bush doll tied to the solar panel on the hiking pack. I am amused. ;)

[@pedrocampos691]

Okaay.

[@Jefferdaughter]

Sweet, but naive: "They just seem like perfect creatures. They're humble. They just go about their business, eating lichens. They don't crave flesh, and grease (fat) and need to go out killing things, everything just preys on them. Doesn't quite seem fair sometimes.' But nearly every bit of their gear, their clothing, their gloves, almost everything is made of OIL! Sourcing that oil, processing it, manufacturing all the stuff we used to make from natural materials - but now make from oil - that kills more wildlife directly, and indirectly through habitat destruction, than a bunch of meat-eaters. (Fun fact: Most of the protein ruminants, like caribou, actually use to build and maintain their bodies is actually animal protein- from the microbes which are classed as animals that live in their 'first stomach' that actually digest the lichens and other plant material the caribou eat - NOT from the protein content of the plant material consumed. Isn't nature fascinating?!) The lichens might have a different viewpoint, too... Aside from that, how can we say caribou 'are humble'? In the context of wild animals, what does that even mean??

[@shel8096]

Not to mention they apparently had a plane dropping off supplies to them? How is that good for the environment

[@Charlimarteli]

Caribou is yummy...

[@ErisEntropy]

liek if u watchd dis videeo

[@sajlanfear]

Wonderful journey you all went through. Thought George Bush was an idiot before, now its irrefutable!

[@Charlimarteli]

George dubya was alright...Trump is just cool...

[@rafevelly7295]

all is not lost in the end mother nature always wins fossil fuel will no longer matter we have abundance of free energy all around us the sun the air the water and the land

[@Jefferdaughter]

We get upset that oil companies want to drill in the wildlife 'refuge'... but we keep rewarding the oil companies for doing this kind of thing. OK, you're thinking 'No, way!' But you do, and I do, most every day. How? The last time you bought a coat, did you look for wool, or another natural fiber? Or did you go for micro-fiber, nylon, or another synthetic?? Those synthetic fibers are all made from the oil under the wildlife refuge!! Did you look for feather or down fill in that parka? Or did you fall for the propaganda that harvesting the shedding feathers and down, or using the feathers and down from geese and ducks harvested for food, is somehow less harmful to the living world than animals coated in oil in the Gulf, or in the wake of the Exxon Valdez spill? (And many other leaks and spills we never hear about?) Wool carpet - or plastic? (Hint: If your carpet and rugs are not made of wool, they are made of plastic fibers - and usually coated in yet more harmful man-made chemicals - like 'Scotch Guard', and flame retardants.) Wool, by the way, is naturally stain resistant. And sheep grow a new fleece every year; don't mind being shorn (it takes only about 5 minutes), and can thrive on pasture alone - renewing it and fertilizing it. The plants on this planet need the animals as much as the animals need the plants. Vinyl flooring (petroleum!) - or ceramic tile? Did you buy plastic when there was a choice to either: - buy the same or comparable product made of a less harmful material, like buying a beverage in GLASS instead of plastic? - Or did you opt not to buy it at all? (How many plastic gadgets, gizmos, and nick-nacs do we need?) Every little thing we can do helps: - Buy milk pain, aka casein paint the next time you want to 'redecorate'. It lasts a long time, and is scrubbable, once fully cured. -Carry your own beverages from home in glass (best- leaches no toxins, is easily reused, easily recycles, and returns to the sand from which it was made), or stainless steel. - Plan shopping and other chores and combine trips. Maybe shop on the way home from work, and save your Saturday for something better! * Reduce * Reuse * Recycle! * Reducing and re-using things is always better than recycling. -Buy used instead of new. -Cars - Made mostly of plastic, these days. Do I really NEED a new one? Or can I maintain and repair my current car? Or buy used? You can come up with dozens of other ideas. They all add up to reduce the amount oil we are paying the petroleum companies to go after, destroying ecosystems as they: -search for it (sonic blasts in the oceans...) -drill for it - pump it through pipelines or move it in ships - 'refine' it. Some of the most productive ecosystems in the WORLD have been destroyed by oil refining, since these plans are located along shorelines; ecosystems that produced bountiful amounts of the most nutritious foods in the world, almost effortlessly... fish, crabs, oysters, clams, shrimp... now scarce, too polluted to eat, or gone altogether. We can make a difference!

[@grizzlycountry1030]

Jefferdaughter that is the most idiotic shit I've read in a long time