PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
In the past, Canis lupus was found in a large part of the northern hemisphere. Because wolves were a threat, humans have more or less wiped them out from the whole area, to such an extent that there are now only small fragmented populations of wolves in Europe. The wolf population in Italy is one of the main ones in the European Union. In recent years, the species has started to reappear in the Alps, whereas in the south there has been a rapid and marked decline. Of the 400 to 500 wolves living in Italy, some 30 to 40 live in the national park of Pollino, a mountain area straddling the border between Basilicata and Calabria. Action is being taken there to protect the species. Threats to the wolves in the park are basically from humans. There have been a number of incidents where wolves have been killed illegally after they have preyed on domestic animals. Another huge problem is the number of stray dogs, since dogs compete with wolves for food and are a serious source of disease and genetic contamination.
OBJECTIVES
This project was the first one aimed specifically at protecting the wolf in Southern Italy. The National Park of Pollino, which benefitted from previous LIFE-Nature funds, had conducted detailed research on the ecology of the wolves living in the park, to use as a basis for planning the measures to be funded by the European Union. The basic objective of these measures was to keep the wolf population stable in the long term by tackling the causes of its depletion and reducing conflict between the species and human activities. To prevent the wolf from preying on domestic animals, the beneficiary was to provide shepherds with electric fences and dogs trained to protect herds. At the same time, more wild prey was to be provided for the wolves by re-introducing red deer and roe deer. Each stage of the project would be accompanied by an intense public-awareness campaign. Finally, the project included the elaboration of a specific action plan to be incorporated into the Park Management Plan in order to guarantee the long-term conservation of the wolf.
RESULTS
The beneficiary completed all the foreseen actions. The main results of the project can be summarized as follows:
An increase of knowledge on the causes which determine conflicts between wolf and human activities based on preparatory studies. From the researches it emerged that uncontrolled stock raising and lack of preventive measures (i.e. fences and mastiff dogs) increase the predation of cattle and sheep by wolves. For this reason 30 mastiff dogs of a race particularly able to protect herds from the wolves and 40 electrified fences have been assigned to breeders in order to decrease the possibility of predation by wolves. The scarce use and knowledge of the funds to compensate damages among the breeders increase the negative attitude against the wolf. An information campaign directed to breeders has been therefore carried out, focused on the measures to prevent damages and on existing compensation procedure. The beneficiary has elaborated an action plan to protect and guarantee a better conservation status of the wolf in the Pollino area, which will be implemented in the Park Plan currently being elaborated. Forty one individuals of red deer have been released in the Park to improve the availability of preys for wolf and decrease the cases of predation on the livestock (this action has been completed after the project end with funds of the Park) The beneficiary elaborated a programme to reduce the presence of stray dogs in the area, based on a sound monitoring of their distribution among the Park. A wide public awareness activity has been carried out with lessons in the local schools and through distribution of brochures and broadcasting of a spot in local TV channel. A working group of vets directed at the control of stray dogs and at the compensation procedure has been set up. The beneficiary completed all the foreseen actions. The main results of the project can be summarized as follows:
An increase of knowledge on the causes which determine conflicts between wolf and human activities based on preparatory studies. From the researches it emerged that uncontrolled stock raising and lack of preventive measures (i.e. fences and mastiff dogs) increase the predation of cattle and sheep by wolves. For this reason 30 mastiff dogs of a race particularly able to protect herds from the wolves and 40 electrified fences have been assigned to breeders in order to decrease the possibility of predation by wolves. The scarce use and knowledge of the funds to compensate damages among the breeders increase the negative attitude against the wolf. An information campaign directed to breeders has been therefore carried out, focused on the measures to prevent damages and on existing compensation procedure. The beneficiary has elaborated an action plan to protect and guarantee a better conservation status of the wolf in the Pollino area, which will be implemented in the Park Plan currently being elaborated. Forty one individuals of red deer have been released in the Park to improve the availability of preys for wolf and decrease the cases of predation on the livestock (this action has been completed after the project end with funds of the Park) The beneficiary elaborated a programme to reduce the presence of stray dogs in the area, based on a sound monitoring of their distribution among the Park. A wide public awareness activity has been carried out with lessons in the local schools and through distribution of brochures and broadcasting of a spot in local TV channel. A working group of vets directed at the control of stray dogs and at the compensation procedure has been set up.
