Muskox Health Ecology Symposium 2016: Gathering to Share Knowledge on "Umingmak" in a Time of Rapid Change

The Muskox, Ovidos, Ovibos moschatus, also known as Umingmak 'the Bearded One,' is a taxonomically unique, cold-adapted, ice-age survivor. Originally native to Canada and Greenland, it has established a circum-Arctic distribution via introduced populations. Muskoxen play an important role in the cultural identity of Arctic Indigenous peoples and provide a healthy source of country food. The overall goal was to share knowledge on muskox health, ecology, and sustainability, with a view to conserving muskoxen and the services they provide, now and into the future. Overall the meeting was a tremendous success. Scientific, local, and traditional management and industry knowledge and perspectives were shared among delegates, leading to very rich discussions and many new collaborations. Throughout the meeting, it was clear that the muskox is a highly valued species for a multitude of reasons, yet in many jurisdictions it remains the "poor cousin" to caribou and reindeer, with a rather quiet public profile that attracts little research and management funding.