Mercantour and Canjuers plateau are two of the areas with the highest wolf presence in the French Alps. Simultaneously, pastoralism is important in the region. Although protection measures have been in place since the return of the wolf to France, 46% of total damages caused by the wolf in 2014 and 72% in 2015 were concentrated in Mercantour and Canjuers.

The aim of project CanOvis is to study the nocturnal wolf-herd-livestock guarding dog (LGD) behaviour in the Mercantour and Canjuers to understand and better address depredation issues through protection measures. Since 2013, the project has studied the predatory behaviour of wolves and their response to protection measures, the potential of protecting the particular flock using LGDs and vulnerability factors at the level of the pastoral unit. The exterior factors influencing the efficiency of LGDs are examined so as to issue recommendations on how to improve protection against the wolf.

In 2019, the project carried out 530 observations of wolves, observed and analysed 65 attacks, and monitored 174 interactions between LGDs and wolves as well as other interactions with wild fauna (boars, chamois, hares, etc).The results of the CanOvis study are now used for other projects in the Northern Alps (Chamonix) and le Jura mountains, mainly to monitor wolves and protect cow herds. More information can be found here.