European
Wolf
Newsletter
European Subgroup of the IUCN Wolf Specialist Group

Number 1 March 95

Remarks on the web edition of the EWN No.1

I left out the "Exchange Market" for I thought there may be little interest in jobs offered back in 1995.

Preface
by Christoph Promberger

Dear Friends of the wolf,
here it is, the first edition of the European Wolf Newsletter. Another Wolf Magazine? No, I think there are already enough and we are doing conservation - not business. This newsletter therefore has a different goal. It should serve as a tool for people engaged in wolf research and conservation. Not just passing on information only, but giving you an overview of what is currently happening in the different parts of Europe. And bringing people closer together. Building the network.
Here at the Munich Wildlife Society, where we organize the European Wolf Network, we can only serve as a center. You are a ring of the network and without your contributions no net is possible. I know that all of you are extremely busy and not able to write long articles. This is why we constructed this newsletter in a way that does not consume more than five minutes of your time to sum up the progress of your project.
A great thank goes to Barbara Douglas and Carl Willis who correct the English, and to Europe Conservation France. Without their financial and logistic support this newsletter could not exist. I hope you enjoy this first edition.

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The European Wolf Network - what is it?

The story began in April 1992. The Munich Wildlife Society invited wolf experts from 15 different European countries to Oberammergau, Germany. For the first time since 1973, wolf biologists from all over Europe met again and drew a picture of what is going on with wolves. Existing populations extended over national borders and often spread into new countries. It became obvious that wolf conversation needs an international, a European approach. The people present at the workshop agreed to build a platform for this - the European Wolf Network.

An Organizing Committee was formed, consisting of Luigi Boitani, Jan van Haaften, Boguslaw Bobek, Wolf Schroeder, and myself, serving as the secretary.

For the first step, we summarized the work we had done on the workshop into a European Wolf Conservation Strategy. This strategy is what all the people at the workshop thought to be important for wolf conservation. It is considered to be a framework for Europe, but needs to be customized for each individual country. For some countries, the workshop represented the start of national wolf conservation efforts.

Now, for the second step, we needed to be known by many people. Thanks to Luigi Boitani and Dave Mech, who also was involved in our work from the beginning, it was possible to insert the European Wolf Network as the European branch of the IUCN Wolf Specialist Group. Now we had all that we needed to start working - of course everything except money, the most important thing. But funding is always project-specific and step by step several projects have evolved. Some of the projects listed in the "Projects" column are a result of the Network. In some areas, the idea of a European Network was quickly embraced. The Croatian wolf campaign and the Romanian project are probably the best examples. Many people then began to ask for funding through the Network. I believe this is not what the Network should or could do. It is, however, easier to receive funding for projects that cross borders. This is how the Network can be useful. Other people wrote and asked for membership. Having registered members requires a formal organization. That means time and I think the little time we all have is better spent in projects than in organizational work. And does a Network really require this? Isn’t a member of a Network everyone who participates in it? So my belief is that the Network is an idea that can be used for any action according to the European Wolf Conservation Strategy and the Manifesto of the IUCN Wolf Specialist Group. But it has to be used by the people in the different countries. Here at the Munich Wildlife Society we do what we can. But it would be inefficient to spend our energy and our resources in organizing annual meetings and administrating membership lists. Maybe this Newsletter is another step to make the Network more efficient. I would like to welcome everybody to join us.

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International Symposium Announcement

The International Wolf Center at Ely, Minnesota USA and the University of Minnesota Duluth Center for Continuing Education & Extension will co-sponsor "Wolves AND Humans 2000: A Global Perspective for Managing Conflict." The symposium takes place in Duluth, Minnesota USA on March 9 - 12, 1995. The focus of the three-day symposium will be wolf recovery and reintroduction of wolves to former habitats, methods and controversial aspects of wolf control and wolf management. The event is expected to draw 500 wolf and wildlife enthusiasts, government agency personnel, biologists and representatives from environmental organizations. An optional tour to the International Wolf Center in Ely will be included.

(Continuing Education & Extension, University of Minnesota,
Duluth, 316 Darland, 10 University Drive, Duluth, MN 55812 - 2496 USA.
Phone: USA-218-726-6819
Fax: USA-218-726-6336
E-Mail: merickso@d.umn.edu)

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Croatia
Wolf Management Plan for Croatia initiated

A four day workshop "Wolf conservation and population management" was organized by the "Croatian Wolf Group" in Risnjak National Park (23-27 November 1994). With the help of experts from 6 countries the action plan for wolf management in Croatia was created. Following the German model (Brandenburg) the steps in management plan preparation will include survey of public interest groups, evaluation of habitat factors (ecological, livestock) and public opinion, and workshops with interest groups. The draft of the plan will be reviewed by all involved prior to its finalization, hopefully by the end of 1995. The problems to expect are livestock damage compensations and prevention measures, hunters complaints on losses on wildlife, and the criteria for wolf control actions.

(Djuro Huber, Biology Department, Veterinary Faculty, Heinzelova 55, HR-41000 Zagreb)

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France
Wolves returned to Mercantour National Park, Maritime Alps

The first sighting was a direct observation of two wolves on November 5th, 1992. At the end of the following winter, it was obvious that two or three individuals were permanently living in the same area. In July 1993 the skeleton of a wolf was found in an avalanche. During the winter of 1993-94, at least 6 wolves were tracked and observed, forming the first pack in France in 70 years. During the winters 1992-93 and 1993-94, twentytwo and fiftyone carcasses of wild ungulates were found, respectively. At least 65% of these carcasses had been killed by wolves. In winter, the main prey was the Moufflon sheep, a species introduced into this part of the Alps. About 65.000 domestic sheep graze in the park during the summer, of which 20.000 are within wolf range. Thirtysix animals have been apparently killed by wolves in 1993, for which 57,200 french francs (~ US$ 11,000) were paid to shepherds. The differentation of sheep killed by wolves from those killed by dogs create problems. Seventyfive percent of the price is paid in case of doubt. These damages are paid by an association named "Fonds Français pour la Nature et l'Environment". In order to lower the impact of this predator on livestock, the French Ministry of Environment, through the Mercantour National Park, finances various protection systems for shepherds working in areas colonized by the wolf. The situation is, however, difficult as shepherds almost invariably reject the species and demand its eradication.

(Benoit Lequette and Thierry Houard, Parc National du Mercantour, 23 rue d'Italie, B.P. 316, 06006 Nice Cedex, France)

Germany
Wolf Management Plan (Brandenburg)

The first European wolf management plan is completed. It covers an area of about 30.000 km along the German-Polish border and was worked out with the participation of the hunters and the shepherds association. The plan, ordered by the Ministry of Environment and executed by the Munich Wildlife Society, proposes a threefold strategy for dealing with livestock depredation problems: main focus lies on prevention of livestock depredation, but is integrated in a system with compensation payment and - under certain conditions - also the control of identified problem wolves. Another main activity of wolf management is education. A small private organization, at least partially funded by the government, will be built up or future wolf management actions. This is a new model for Germany, where no real wildlife management agency exists yet.

(Christoph Promberger and Doris Hofer, Munich Wildlife Society, Linderhof 2, D-82488 Ettal)

Italy
New Compensation Program for Wolf Depredation in Tuscany Region.

In Italy the wolf is considered a fully protected species by a national law (n. 968/77), and damage caused by wolves on livestock is reimbursed. Every region where wolves are present implemented such a law. In an attempt to update the compensation procedure, Tuscany Region recently (July 1994) established a new reimbursement law (n. 50/94). The most important improvements are:

1. The predator species is represented by the wolf and any form of freeranging dog.
2. Full compensation (100 %) is refunded for certified damage.
3. Compensation is refunded also for indirect losses.
4. Reimbursement procedure is faster, and allows for 80 % of the damage to be reimbursed within a maximum of 75 days.
5. Incentives of up to 50 % is offered to private shepherds for control and prevention methods;
6. Under the definition of a regional "Wolf Map", livestock producers within its boundaries are given priority For reimbursement. Future compensation is provided only if within 2 years from the publication of the "Wolf Map" they certify prevention methods against livestock depredation.

(Paolo Ciucci Progetto Lupo Toscana, c/o Rifugio Crocicchio, Parco Naturale dell’Orecchiella, I 55030 Corfino)

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Slovakia
Hunting Species

In Slovakia, the wolf is listed as hunting species with protection from March 1 to September 15. During hunting season, the wolf is pursued intensively by hunters. Bag counts in recent years have been the highest in Slovak history (e.g. 152 wolf kills in 1992). Because information on the actual numbers of the wolf is not available, this species is in danger of excessive hunting pressure leading to serious population decline. The present process of transformation of game management is accompanied by relatively intense poaching, which affects not only predators but also their food base of herbivores. The decreased numbers of free-ranging ungulates forces predators to reorient toward livestock. This results in increasing conflicts between man and predators.

(Slavomir Findo, Forest Research Institute, T.G. Masaryka street 22, SK-96092 Zvolen)

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Austria
Historic Evaluation

In consideration of the European wolf situation wolves will possibly spread into Austria in the future. The focal points of the project are:

• nationwide research about wolf-sightings and -killings since the beginning of the 19th century
• to gain knowledge about the wolf situation in Austria's neighbouring countries
• to build up a database for future wolf management in Austria

(Andreas Zedrosser in cooperation with WWF Austria, Ottakringer Str. 114-116, A-1160 Wien)

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Croatia
PR-Campaign

The "Croatian Wolf Group" was established in 1993 and started a campaign to save wolves in Croatia from extinction. With the financial help from Europe Conservation Italy and the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe, and the support of European Wolf Network, IUCN Wolf Specialist group, International Wolf Center and Gruppo Lupo Italia the following list of results of the first year of work was achieved:

• 1994 was proclaimed "The Year of Wolf in Croatia".
• A poster "S.O.S. - Wolf" and wolf stickers were printed
• A press conference was organized in Zagreb on January 31st.
• Public attitude towards wolves in the areas where they live was surveyed.
• A wolf exhibit called "Did little Red Ridinghood eat the wolf?" was opened in Zagreb and in Risnjak National Park.
• A series of lectures on the wolf status in Croatia was given.
• A wolf stamp was issued by the Croatian Post Office.
• The wolf is removed from the list of game species and will not be managed by hunters according to the new "Hunting Law" (accepted on January 28th, 1994 by the Croatian Parliament).
• A detailed "Proposal for the Legal Protection of Wolves in Croatia" was put together. The "Department for the Nature Protection" of the Ministry of Environment Protection started the official procedure to put wolves in Croatia under legal protection. We hope to see it in effect soon.

(Djuro Huber, Biology Department, Veterinary Faculty, Heinzelova 55, HR - 41000 Zagreb.)

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Italy
Population Monitoring and Range Dynamics

The wolf project in Italy is organized at a national level through monitoring of population and range dynamics and the assessment of genetic status and identity and at local scale, through intensive field-research. By means of naturalistic and radiotelemetry methods, field studies are being carried out in Tuscany, in the northern portion of the Apennines. One study area, at the higher elevation of the northern Apennines, is characterized by large forests, a mosaic of protected areas, viable populations of wild ungulates, the absence of garbage dumps, and low human density. Ecological conditions therefore differ from those of the central-southern portion of the Apennines where wolves have been studied historically. The objectives of field research are local wolf pack dynamics, range and habitat use, feeding ecology, predation and relationship with wild and domestic prey. The impact on the livestock industry is of particular interest in an other study area in Siena province, where wolves have recently colonized the highly agricultural land and live in close contact with sheep, causing heavy losses and sociopolitical concern. Research is also aimed to update a management policy.

(Paolo Ciucci, Progetto Lupo Toscana, c/o Rifugio Crocicchio, Parco Naturale dell’Orecchiella, I-55030 Corfino and Luigi Boitani, Department of Animal and Human Biology , University of Rome , Viale Universita 32, I-00185 Rome).

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Italy
Eco pathology and genetics (Abruzzo)

Since 1991, the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy, started dealing with wolf studies in Central Italy. Goals of the projects born from this new field of interest are aimed towards a deeper knowledge of the eco-pathology and the genetic structure of this population. Results should provide additional information for conservation plans and management of the Italian wolf population.
Aspects of the ongoing projects are as follows:

• Causes of mortality in retrieved dead wolves.
• Health status of the source populations through virological, microbiological, parasitological and toxicological investigations, and through analyses of environmental contaminants.
• Wolf-caused damage to livestock through assessment of the damage, data analyses, socio-economic investigations, damage prevention and control.
• Recovery of wounded or sick wolves through direct veterinarian assistance, serologic, and chemical-clinical investigations.
• Investigations on the genetic structure of the wolf population of Central Italy in relation to recent demographic events of the entire Italian population.
• Evaluation of the genetic differentiation between wolf and dog.

(Rosario Fico and Rita Lorentini, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale". Campo Boario, I-64110 Teramo)

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Poland
Wolf ecology (Bialowieza Primeval Forest)

Bialowieza Forest is one of the best preserved forest ecosystems in lowland temperate Europe. It harbours a nearly pristine community of ungulates (five species) and large carnivores (wolf, lynx). Research on wolf ecology was started in the late 1980s, mainly using snow-tracking, recording carcasses of killed ungulates, and scat analysis. The diet of wolves was recognized and the importance of the wolf for the ungulate community revealed. Since 1994, telemetry has been used to support more traditional methods of field work. Aims of the research involve

• investigations of numbers, space use, and activity of wolves;
• the impact of wolves on numbers, spatial distribution, and grouping patterns of ungulates;
• selection pressure of wolves on ungulates (sex, age, and physical condition of prey);
• influence of ungulates (density, spatial distribution) on the wolf population.

(Henryk Okarma and Wlodzimierz Jedrzejewski, Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-17-230 Bialowieza)

Romania
Ecology and prey-relationships (Romanian Carpathians)

In a 3,000 km" area at the bend of the Romanian Carpathians, a research project on wolf ecology and prey-relationships has started in Winter 1993/94. Goals of the project are to achieve knowledge on basic ecological parameters and on the impact of humans upon wolves. We plan to live-trap up to 20 wolves per year and fit them with radio-collars. The necessary data will be collected through ground and airplane telemetry, snow-tracking radiocollared wolves during a period of four to six weeks, analyzing hunted wolf carcasses and intensive monitoring during the Summer at locations with high livestock depredation. In August 1994, the first two wolves were trapped. A two-year old female was radio-collared and a pup was released without a collar. The study is supposed to last a minimum of five years.

(Christoph Promberger, Munich Wildlife Society, Linderhof 2, 82488 Ettal, and Ovidiu Ionescu, Wildlife Research Laboratory, I.C.A.S. Bucuresti, Sos. Stefanesti 128, RO-Bucharest.)

Slovakia
Wolf Ecology and Livestock Guarding Dogs (Slovakian Carpathians)

Five years project on wolf ecology and renovation of livestock guarding dog management initiated and supported by The Wolf Protection Society, Germany in cooperation with University of Calgary, Canada, Hampshire College, USA, Forest Research Institute, Slovakia has started in spring 1994. At the beginning the research has been focused on two areas, the Tatra National Park 450 km" (wolves are protected year round) and Cergov Mountains 200 km" declared as a hunting area. Goals of the project are to achieve knowledge on basic biology, to compare ecological parameters in protected and managed wolf populations and to reduce depredation on domestic animals with the help of native livestock guarding dogs, currently not being managed according to tradition. In July 1994, the first wolf was trapped and radiocollared. In 1995 the study will continue by trapping, telemetry, scats analysis and education about livestock guarding dogs.

(Slavomir Find'o, Forest Research Institute, Masarykova 22, SK 96092 Zvolen, and Günther Bloch, Wolf Protection Society Von-Goldstein-Str. 1, D-53902 Bad Münstereifel)

Spain
Wolf Predation on Ungulates (Cantabrian Mountains)

Since 1987, the increase in the Spanish wolf population is being surveyed in a massif of the Cantabrian Mountains. The very productive vegetation sustains a high density of large herbivores in the region. Information about the activity of four wolf packs (about 20 wolves) is recorded in a 500 km" study area. Wolves prey mainly on wild ungulates in winter and on livestock in summer. Winter prey is the key food for the wolf. Red deer became this key winter resource for at least two packs in a 50 km" sub-area. After a five-year decrease (1988-93), the red deer population seemed to stabilize. A first step in this study deals with the analysis of red deer demography (population density and structure). Furthermore, the presence of livestock modifies the prey distribution and induces wolf packs movements leading to high local predation on both domestic and wild ungulates. After a seven-year monitoring period, a first paper has been prepared for E.P.H.E., Montpellier (France). This work is still in progress and further results will be published in the future.

(Vincent Vignon, OGE, 42 rue gambetta, F-77400 Lagny-sur-Marne)

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• English Publications
  • Trail of the Wolf
• French Publications
  • Le Loup - il est revenu (The Wolf - it has returned)
  • Wolf Biology, Behaviour and Cohabitation With Man
• German Publications
  • Auf der Spur der Wölfe (Trail of the Wolf)
  • Der Wolf im deutsch-polnischen Grenzgebiet (The Wolf in the German-Polish Border Area)

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French Publications

Le Loup - il est revenu (The Wolf - it has Returned. Available in French only, produced by Parc National du Mercantour, 23 rue d'Italie, 06006 Nice Cedex 1, France). Leaflet with focus towards tourists and shepherds. Contains informations on: distrubution, natural recovery, habitat requirements, social live and reproduction, food habitats, threats to humans and wildlife, and a description of the animal.

Wolf Biology, Behaviour and Cohabitation With Man (Available in French only, produced by Societé nationale de protection de la nature, 557 rue Cuvier, BP 405, 75221 Paris Cedex 05, France). A brochure on wolf biology and cohabitation with human activities. This brochure is destinated to the general public and aims at a large rehabilitation of the wolf picture. Besides, the S.N.P.N. is also working on a leaflet about the problems of wolf conservation in livestock areas. This leaflet is written for shepherds, who already suffer from a substantial depredation on livestocks.

German Publications

Auf der Spur der Wölfe (Trail of the Wolf. Available also in English, by R.D. Lawrence). A book on general ecology of wolves and its relation towards humans. No up-to-date information. The whole chapter "Distribution of the wolf" is lacking of recent information, represents the knowledge of the early eighties and part of it is wrong. However, the pictures are beautiful.

Der Wolf im deutsch-polnischen Grenzgebiet (The Wolf in the German-Polish Border Area. Available in German only, produced by Munich Wildlife Society, Linderhof 2, 82488 Ettal, Germany). Leaflet with focus towards shepherds and hunters. Contains information on: status and distribution of the wolf in the German-Polish border region, threats to humans and livestock, influence on ungulates, differences between wolves and stray dogs.

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Page published by Oliver Matla in 1997
Contents taken from the European Wolf Newsletter, edited by the European Wolf Networkand published with assistance of Europe Conservation France.