The musk ox (Ovibos moschatus) is a shaggy herbivore of the Arctic tundra, recognizable by its long, dark coat and formidable curved horns. This species has persisted since the Pleistocene era. Its name comes from the musky odor males produce during the breeding season. Current population counts reflect a successful, ongoing conservation story in the challenging northern environment.
The Current Global Population Estimate
The total worldwide population of musk ox is estimated to be between 80,000 and 150,000 individuals across their circumpolar distribution. Obtaining an exact, synchronized global count is difficult because these herds inhabit remote and expansive regions of the Arctic. Survey data is often collected at different times using varying methodologies, which contributes to the wide range in the overall estimate.
The species is currently classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as “Least Concern.” This designation reflects the species’ overall recovery and stable numbers across its primary range. This status is contingent on the health of numerous localized populations, which are regularly monitored to track fluctuations.
Geographic Distribution and Subpopulations
The global population is concentrated in three main geographic centers, alongside several smaller, re-established herds. Canada holds the largest portion, with an estimated population exceeding 95,000 animals, or roughly two-thirds of the global total. The majority of these Canadian musk ox are found on the Arctic islands, particularly Banks Island and Victoria Island.
Greenland hosts the second-largest concentration, with stable herds estimated to number around 20,000 individuals. These animals are widespread, including populations protected within the Northeast Greenland National Park. The United States also contributes to the total, where a population of several thousand musk ox now thrives in various parts of Alaska.
Smaller, introduced populations exist in Eurasia, primarily in Russia and Norway. Russia’s reintroduction to the Taymyr Peninsula and Wrangel Island has led to populations exceeding 10,000 animals. A small, self-sustaining group also exists in Norway, demonstrating the species’ capacity to adapt to new Arctic habitats.
Historical Population Decline and Recovery
The musk ox faced a severe population bottleneck in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, bringing the species close to extinction. Commercial hunting for meat and hides decimated many herds across their historical range. By the early 1900s, the species was virtually wiped out in Alaska and existed only in isolated pockets in northern Canada and northeastern Greenland.
Recovery began with strict protective measures, starting with Canada’s legislation in 1917, which halted commercial harvest. A major turning point was the reintroduction program in Alaska, where the original population had been extirpated. In 1930, 34 musk ox were captured in Greenland and transported to Nunivak Island, off the coast of Alaska.
The Nunivak Island herd flourished, and its descendants were later used to establish new herds on the Alaskan mainland, including the Seward Peninsula and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This reintroduction model was replicated internationally in Russia and Norway, establishing the smaller populations that contribute to the global count.