Conservation of great carnivores in Europe : return of wolf in the French Alps

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the project is to improve the conservation status of the French wolf population. To do so, it is planned to publish a national wolf strategy, defining the rules on the management of wolf populations and organising the prevention of and compensation for damage to domestic animals. Studies carried out under the project will help increase understanding of the ecological requirements of the wolf, its population dynamics, its distribution and its ecological and economic impact. Communication campaigns to improve acceptance of the wolf by local populations and measures taken in the pastures should also reduce the risks. The project plans to introduce measures to prevent attacks on domestic herds (100 mobile pens, 250 dogs, the recruitment of 20 shepherd assistants and four support technicians). These measures will be more efficient than previous ones and better suited to the local circumstances, which will have been studied beforehand. The wolf reappeared in France in 1992. It first appeared in the southern Alps (Parc National du Mercantour), then gradually spread to other areas. In 1998 it could be found from the Department of Savoie to that of Alpes-Maritimes, passing through Isère and Drôme. The wolf population in France is now estimated at 25 to 30 animals. The reconquest of new territories has led to crises with sheep farmers using Alpine pastures. Farmers are not happy about the return of this predator, which they view as a threat to their activity. In this highly conflictual situation, it is to be feared that the poaching or poisoning of wolves could compromise the development or even the survival of the French wolf population.

RESULTS

Despite some difficulties at the beginning of the project, due to the hostility of the stockbreeders and shepherds, the project has eventually been successful. Knowledge of the species has been considerably improved, concrete protective actions have been taken and the French population of wolves continues to expand. The following have been achieved:

Monitoring of the population:

The project has succeded in creating a network of people, “le réseau loup”, to collect and centralise data on the individuals present in the whole French Alps. In 2004, 450 persons were involved in this network, co-ordinated by a scientist in charge of training and of the management of the collection and exchange of information. Genetic analyses of hairs and excrements have been performed to validate or invalidate the presence of wolf and to identify their origin. Behavioural data have also been collected and a study on one pack’s food foraging, realised before the completion of the project : it showed that 75 to 85% of their diet is composed of wild ungulates.

The monitoring actions also showed that in 2004, 13 packs of wolves (or individual) were present at least 2 following winters. The population was estimated to be around 50 wolves.

Some dead individuals have also been examined between 1993 and 1999. It revealed 4 deaths by poisoning, 2 by direct destruction, one collision with a vehicle and one death in an avalanche. Poisoning reappeared in France in 1998.

Compensation of damages caused by the wolves:

Damages reports have been carried out by members of the network, previously trained by a vet. The procedure is well defined and relatively quick to execute but the number of wolves had raised during the project and their distribution expanded. Thanks to the measures taken by the project, the number of attacks remains more or less steady between 2002 and 2004 in 1999.

Protection measures:

Standard measures of protection have been taken:

A 4 technician have studied the vulnerability of the pasture areas, and assisted the stockbreeders in the implementation of protection measures. They had daily contacts with the shepherds.

LIFE with complementary national funds has supported the employment of 390 additional herdsmen for stockbreeders in order to strengthen the surveillance of flocks.

761 mobile enclosures for livestock and 37 permanent ones have been installed.

The Life-project has paid for the acquisition of 205 guard dogs and their first vaccinations. To ensure the success of the implementation of the dogs, a sanitary and behavioural monitoring has been undertaken and several boards have been installed to warn the hikers. Studies have showed that interactions between dogs and hikers were rare. In the the French Alps now, there are seven hundred guard dogs in activity.

The implementation of such protection measures has led to a significant decrease in damages even if those have not been totally eliminated and, and consequently to a reduction of damage compensation costs. Agri-environnemental measures that aimed at consolidating and carrying on actions of the LIFE project were drawn in 2003 and set up in 2004.

Public awareness and communication of results:

Several seminars and meetings have been organised. Italian, Austrian and Swiss scientist have been consulted. The project has also contacted other actors working on the large carnivores LIFE-project. A newsletter “info-loup” has also been published.

The demonstrative effect of the project has been particularly important. The wolf had been extinct in the French Alps for tens of years. The stockbreeding techniques did not take into account large carnivores any more. The project has shown that damages could be limited and discussions with stockbreeders have allowed to understand better the indirect impacts (stress, abortion…). . A Wolf national strategy was drawn in the second phase.