Emergency response team Bulgaria dealing with bears and wolves Aleksandar Dutsov BALKANI Wildlife Society
LARGE CARNIVORES in BULGARIA Aleksandar Dutsov BALKANI Wildlife Society
Bears in Bulgaria They inhabit 10500 sq. km. Separated in two subpopulations (one metapopulation). Estimated capacity of habitat is 1200 individuals. Estimated population size is 500-700. Protected.
Wolves in Bulgaria They inhabit 15 500 sq. km. Most suitable habitats in the country. Estimated capacity of habitat is 800-1200 individuals. Estimated population size is 700-850. Not protected at the moment. Legally hunted whole year with some regulation based on methods allowed.
Which of the following best describes your feeling towards bears and wolves General attitude towards WOLVES General attitude towards BEARS 40 35 37.2 40 35 33.4 31.9 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 5.6 Completely positive 12.6 Rather positive 22.7 21.9 Neither positive, nor negative Rather negative Completely negative 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Completely positive Rather positive 17.8 Neither positive, nor negative 8.7 8.2 Rather negative Completely negative
FELLINGS What would you fill if meet a bear? Hatred; 16,8 Curiosity/ Other; 0,8 Interest, 26.4 Hatred, 2.1 Other, 1.3 Curiosity/ Interest; 26,4 Hatred; 2,1 Other; 1,3 Fear; 65,1 iosity/inter st; 24,7 Horror; 6,6 Horror, 5.0 Fear ; 51,3 Horror; 5,0 Fear, 65.1
DAMAGES Do bear cause damages? Yes, they did 61% No, they do not 39%
DAMAGES Do bear cause damages? Damages Caused by Bears Since 2006 in Smolyan Region Peak in 2009 over 120 cases
Legislation Bear protected since 1992 (Ministry Order), 2002 Biodiversity Conservation Act Wolf hunted all year, BCA managed polulations. Hunting and Game Protection Act Article 79. (1) Damages caused by game in hunting grounds on agricultural crops, forest vegetation and livestock are payd by managers of the game. (2) Damages caused by bear and cormorant are covered by Ministry of Environment and water. Brown Bear Management Plan 2008. Aleksandar Dutsov BALKANI Wildlife Society
Definiton Aleksandar Dutsov BALKANI Wildlife Society
BET Emergency groups are composed of two divisions: One national commission regional emergency groups Protocol (underdevelopment) Duties and activities of the National commission: It elects and control the members of the regional groups Collects and analyses the data presented by the regional commissions Makes decisions on coping with problematic bears, as well as on damage compensation. It coordinates annual quota for shooting of brown bear specimens in regions. It controls all the activities of other organizations, institutions and individuals, connected with the brown bear. It acts as a major informing body for giving of information on problematic bears to the public in connection with conflicts settlement. Brown Bear Conservation Program in Bulgaria
Regional Emergency Groups They immediately visit the place, in case of signal for damages done by bear They ascertain and instantly evaluate the damage and immediately presented their conclusions in a protocol to the National commission. They make suggestions to the National commission about compensations for owner of damaged by brown bear property. Suggest immediate actions against a problematic bear according to the data gathered to the National commission for. Prescribe local preventing measures (for example dung-hill cleaning, etc.) to reduce the problems Immediately take or set activities or measures in case of trap release or in other conditions, which harmed the specimen, as well as medical treatment of such ones. To keep the expert level of the regional commissions members high, they have to go to an annual refreshing course, in addition a training course for new damage appraisers has to be carried out. Coping with a problematic bear at first through frightening, if this measure is ineffective, then other steps can be taken: catch and marking of a problematic bear for easier tracking, moving the bear to other place, holding in captivity (zoo or else) and as a last resort shooting. Measures have to be directed to preserve the species and to solve the problem human-bear. Brown Bear Conservation Program in Bulgaria
Annual training of Regional groups Theoretical part Presentation of results and experience exchange Update of protocol and propose of legislation changes BALKANI WS, Vlahi Brown Bear Conservation 30.06.2010 Practical trainings, Program etc. in Bulgaria
LC Interactions in past Game Managers were assessing damage sites. Government is compensating damages / Governmental Insurance Institute. Expert Game Managers are trained to remove specific problem individuals. Aleksandar Dutsov BALKANI Wildlife Society
Now a day Regional structures of MOEW are delegating BET functions to experts (REI and National Parks). REI Smolian has established designated BET team. NGO s are participating in BET interventions (BALKANI WS). Local commissions by Foresters, Veterinarians, MOEW representatives and NGO are part of commission to asses damages. Aleksandar Dutsov BALKANI Wildlife Society
Dammage asesment Preparing documentation Recommendation for Compensation Aleksandar Dutsov BALKANI Wildlife Society
Necropsy Identifying cause of dead Aleksandar Dutsov BALKANI Wildlife Society
Rescquing bears from traps and other unusual situations Aleksandar Dutsov BALKANI Wildlife Society
Intervention with problem bears Александър Дуцов
Prevention BET members are recommending use of proper preventive measures. BET members are assisting in donation and assembly of electric fences and LGD. Aleksandar Dutsov BALKANI Wildlife Society
Recommendations Development of Wolf damage assessment and registration system. And same for Lynx. Management Plan for both species. Training local teams to deal with wolf and lynx related issues. Elaboration of National legislation dfining and regulating large carnivore compensation, prevention and function of Large Carnivore Emergency Teams. Aleksandar Dutsov BALKANI Wildlife Society
THANK YOU www.bearbg.com www.balkani.org Александър Дуцов 16.12.2008