News
Calling all snow trackers!
16 Sepember 2011Would you like to help track wolves and lynx in the Tatra Mountains this winter? Sign up for White Wilderness 2012: Carpathian Wolf Watch and you could do just that! The project brings together international volunteers and local people, nature conservationists, foresters, landowners and hunters. Under the close supervision of experienced project staff, volunteers track wolves and lynx and collect samples for DNA analysis, which will allow us to determine the minimum number of animals in the area as well as to detect changes which could require urgent intervention. More>>
Change is in the air?
March 2011Not only is spring approaching and we are receiving reports of bears active in several localities but there are signs that 2011 could be a year of major change in bear management in Slovakia. We welcome the recent announcement by the Environment Minister, József Nagy, of a range of measures to reduce human-bear conflicts. These include support for the installation of bear-proof bins, an information campaign to inform the public and new procedures for dealing with problem bears. We have been active in all these areas since we launched The BEARS Project in 2003 and have repeatedly called on the Slovak authorities to implement measures that have proven to be effective. On 1 March we had the opportunity to present our work to the Environment Ministry and are cautiously optimistic that the changes planned could bring a positive benefit to both people and bears if they are properly implemented. Click here to see the Environment Ministry announcement.
Wolf and lynx tracking in the Tatra Mountains
February 2011A second field season using systematic methods to assess wolf and lynx population status in the Liptov region of northern Slovakia has been successfully completed. Among the many highlights was video footage of a lynx returning to the carcass of a roe deer which we obtained with the aid of our automatic camera traps. These devices open a window on the activities of otherwise elusive species, providing fascinating insights into the secret lives of predators and prey while causing minimal disturbance. We also have a wealth of data and samples to keep us busy analysing over the next few months. A big thank you to all the volunteers and everyone else involved. More>>
White Wilderness 2011
January 2011Following last year's successful launch of "White Wilderness: Winter wolf and lynx tracking in the Tatra Mountains", which was featured among National Geographic Adventure Magazine's "25 Best New Trips for 2010", we are continuing this vital work in 2011. The project brings together international volunteers and local people, nature conservationists, foresters, landowners and hunters. Under the close supervision of experienced project staff, volunteers track wolves and lynx and collect samples for DNA analysis, which will allow us to determine the minimum number of animals in the area as well as to detect changes which could require urgent intervention. More>>
UK launch of the White Dog Fund
October 2010The White Dog Fund was officially launched on 17 October 2010 as part of International Wolf Awareness week at the UK Wolf Conservation Trust, with Wolves and Humans director Richard Morley and Slovak Wildlife Society biologist Robin Rigg giving talks and practical demonstrations of livestock protection methods to invited guests, journalists, volunteers and members of the public. The White Dog Fund aims to provide people in rural areas of Europe who bear the real cost of co-existing with wolves, bears and lynx with prompt and practical assistance to resolve conflicts; a positive alternative to killing them. The Fund gives everyone, whether you live in a city or in the countryside, the opportunity to share responsibility for the conservation of these species by supporting the people most affected by their presence. Thank you to everyone who helped out at the event, and to the UK Wolf Conservation Trust for inviting us. More >>
Volunteer opportunities for 2011
August 2010Details are currently being finalised for two exciting volunteer opportunities for 2011. The first year of our snow tracking project, " White Wilderness: Winter wolf and lynx tracking in the Tatra Mountains ", was featured among National Geographic Adventure Magazine's "25 Best New Trips in the World". Next year we will be continuing with this ground-breaking project bringing together international volunteers and local people, nature conservationists and hunters, in order to determine reliable estimates of keystone predators in Slovakia. Later in the year we also plan to renew our collaboration with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers to monitor the status of the critically endangered Tatra chamois. More >>
Lynx filmed hunting marmots
July 2010We've just had a fantastic experience. Although Tony and Louise were most interested in bears, I don't think they minded seeing a lynx! We had been up since 5am but by 7 had only seen a roe deer buck. He was very nice and came close to us as we sat quietly in the grass, still I thought we could do better so suggested we walk back towards a colony of marmots, which started going berserk as we approached. I've never heard marmots get that worked up about people and didn't think we could be the cause of so much consternation. Sure enough, there was a lynx walking sedately through the middle of the colony. It was the best sighting of one I've ever had: in good light, out in the open about 300-400 metres away from us. We watched it for almost half an hour, during which time it made several attempts to catch marmots, who were having none of it, and eventually disappeared into some dwarf pine (Pinus mugo). And all that before we'd even had breakfast!
UK Reintroductions Study Tour
June 2010We ran our second Reintroductions Study Tour for those interested in exploring some of the issues that would face any potential reintroduction of large predators such as lynx or wolves to the UK. Participants had the chance not only to visit carnivore habitats but also to talk to local sheep farmers and to see some of the measures put in place to protect livestock, including electric fencing and a guarding dog provided by the Slovak Wildlife Society. Despite the continuing wet and windy weather, it was a fun and useful few days, rounded off with a sumptuous meal at the Grand Castle in Liptovský Hrádok. Thank you to Richard Morley for organising the UK side and also to Ivan Spilý for his excellent driving. All funds raised by the trip will go towards our ongoing work, both in the field and with local communities.
Slovak wolves doing well in Greece
May 2010According to Nick Grammenopoulos, manager of the Arcturos Environmental Centre in Greece, Dastin and Dag, two wolves that we helped to rehome in 2006, are doing very well in their new environment. They were successfully transferred to the wolf sanctuary in Agrapidia in the winter of 2009-2010. Dastin was moved first and he was the first to get to know their new territory and to meet their new "roommate" Sirios. He immediately felt at home and is very confident and active within the new enclosure. Dag came some weeks later and at first he was very hesitant and a bit scared to go out of the small enclosure used as an artificial den. But he eventually started to explore the new area and the two brothers now seem very happy. Their enclosure is about one hectare in size and is full of trees, bushes and rocks: quite a diffence from the dog kennel and garden that they lived in for four years in eastern Slovakia. More >>
Bear-human conflicts
April 2010A forest worker was badly injured by a bear in the Tatra Mountains on 27 April. From the little information contained in the brief notification we received from the Environment Ministry, it is not possible to judge why the attack took place, but the letter says that the bear had been seen regularly near the village of Tatranská Javorina for the preceding 10 days. We have received several more letters from the Ministry dealing with other applications to shoot bears. In each case, it is mentioned that the bear had been seen repeatedly in gardens or near buildings. There are several reasons why this might happen. They could be young animals, perhaps in their first spring without their mother, stumbling on what seem to be easy places to get food. There are also several proven techniques to deal with such situations. If done quickly enough, young bears can often be dissuaded with rubber bullets, bear scare darts, Laika dogs and pepper spray. These are standard interventions in some parts of the world but have been largely overlooked in Slovakia. We have written to the Ministry to offer help but have not received any reply.
Fieldwork completed for wolf and lynx tracking
March 2010During a three-week period, with the help of foresters, landowners and national park staff as well as Slovak and international volunteers, we covered more than 50 routes of between 10 and 15 km each on foot, snow shoes and skis. All tracks of wolves and lynx were recorded and we also collected samples of urine, faeces and hair for genetic analysis, which will allow us to distinguish between different individuals. It was a relief to get some more snow just in time for our tracking census in Liptov. The task for us over the next few months is to analyse the findings. Thanks to Biosphere Expeditions for recruiting the volunteers and to Land Rover and T.O.P. Auto Slovakia for lending vehicles. The biggest thank you, of course, goes to all the participants (from Slovakia, Hungary, the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Australia, Canada and the USA) who were willing to sacrifice their time to help us. More >>
SWS featured in BBC Wildlife Magazine
February 2010Our Bear Watching guiding service has been featured in BBC Wildlife Magazine. In an article entitled "Eastern promise", photographer and travel writer Paul Glendell describes an exciting encounter he had with a bear under the guidance of Slovak Wildlife Society chairman, Robin Rigg. "A little further on, a loud crack, followed by the rustle of undergrowth, made us stop in our tracks", writes Paul. "Moving carefully, we made our way down through the trees and into a clearing covered in a thick carpet of raspberry plants, a favourite food for bears at this time of year. Here, a trail of trampled foliage led us to another freshly dug out wasps' nest..." You can read the rest of Paul's article in the February 2010 edition of the magazine, which can be ordered from the BBC Wildlife Magazine website.
New wolf and lynx tracking project launched
January 2010The typically low population densities, large home ranges and cryptic behaviour of large carnivores such as wolves and lynx make them particularly difficult to observe directly and as a result estimates of their numbers vary widely. While environmentalists have claimed that the annual winter hunting season leaves less than 150 wolves in Slovakia, official game statistics list more than 1,500 grey wolves in spring: a huge difference. Who is right? Maybe neither of them. The main aim of our new project, "White Wilderness: winter wolf and lynx tracking in the Tatra Mountains of Slovakia", is therefore to develop a reliable, standardised methodology for assessing numbers of carnivores. We will be using objective, non-invasive methods (those which do not require animals to be captured) to determine the numbers of these predators and to assess if current hunting quotas are set at sustainable levels. Our first field season begins this month and has been included among National Geographic Adventure Magazine's "25 Best New Trips for 2010".
More news: Click here to read The BEARS Project diary
