Wolf recovery and population dynamics in Western...
Transcript of Wolf recovery and population dynamics in Western...
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Wolf recovery and population dynamics
in Western Poland
Photo by W. Bena
Sabina Nowak Association for Nature „Wolf”
Poland
Robert W. Mysłajek University of Warsaw, Faculty of Biology
Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Poland
Large Carnivores in Central Europe: Experiences in Monitoring, Management, and Communication, Berlin 18-19 April 2016
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Wolf population development in Poland
2001 2015/16
Population size: ~ 550 1200 - 1300 wolves
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Methods
Vegetation season: recording tracks, scats, scent markings, remains of kills
Winter: long-distance snow-tracking, searching for rut evidences in parental
pairs
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Methods
Summer season: confirmation of reproduction in family groups
(searching for pups tracks and dens, camera trapping of pups)
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Methods
Whole year:
• scat collecting for wolf diet analyses,
• colecting samples from fresh scats, blood, urine, hair and
tissues for genetic analyses
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Methods
GPS GSM telemetry
3 wolves found in snares, equipped with collars and released
by the Western-Pomeranian Nature Society
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Wolf recovery in western Poland, 2001-2012
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Wolf recovery in Western Poland
Changes in number of wolves and packs in WPL 2001-2012
The mean annual rate of
increase in 2002-2012 – 38%
(λ=1.38 SE 0.01)
from ~ 7 to ~ 139
from 3 to 30
In 2009 - 2012 the mean
annual rate of increse
dropped to ~ 20%
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Wolf recovery in Western Poland
The area of permanent occurrence increased (2001-2012)
from 600 km2 to 10,900 km2
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Wolf recovery in Western Poland
Mean pack size 3.6 wolves (range 2-9) in 2001-2012
The mean size of packs increased from 1.8 in 2001 to 4.8 in 2012
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Wolf recovery in Western Poland
The size of packs persisting for longer increased
from 2.0 in 2001 to 6.8 in 2012
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Wolf recovery in Western Poland
Pups were born from end of April to May 4th in excavated
dens (57 cases)
96 cases of reproduction recorded in 2001-2012
Mean litter size: 5.1 pups
(range 4-7)
Photo: R. Mysłajek
Reproduction
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Wolf recovery in Western Poland
R. Mysłajek
Pups survival in late autumn (end of November) - 50%
On average 2.5 pups per pack in late autumn
Mortality 7%
Mortality 14%
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% food biomass (n=474 scats)
Other
7%
Roe deer
43%
Red deer
22 %
Wild boar
23%
Unidetified
ungulates
5%
Source: Nowak et al. 2011
Diet of wolves in Western Poland
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Wolf recovery in Western Poland
Pack number
increased in WPL:
from 30 groups (25-
26 packs and 4-5
pairs) in 2012/2013
to 38-40 groups
(33-34 packs
and 5-6 pairs or
groups without
confirmed
reproduction)
in spring 2015
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• 1945-1955 Hunting management
(no protection season)
• 1956-1974 Persecution
(including poisoning and pups removal from dens)
• 1975-1994 Hunting management
(short protection season in some parts of the country)
• 1995-1998 Protection in most of the country
(including Western Poland)
• 1998-present Protection in the whole country
Legal status of wolves in Poland, 1945-2015
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Key actions for wolf populations in Europe
M.
Action 1. Standardized census and monitoring of
wolf population
Action 2. Transboundary cooperation and
population-level management plans
Action 3. Prevention and compensation measures
to reduce livestock depredation.
Action 4. Measures against illegal killing and control
of poison baits
Action 5. Control of free-ranging dogs and wolf-dog
hybridization
Action 6. Habitat fragmentation and connectivity
Action 7. Education, information and data
accessibility
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Baltic wolf population
~ 400-450 wolves
Central European wolf
population
~ 180-200 wolves
Carpathian wolf
population
~ 300 - 400 wolves
Spatial management units of wolf population
in Poland
Roztocze wolf population
~ 100 wolves
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Action 1. Standardized census and monitoring of
wolf population
M.
• Monitoring standards
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Action 1. Standardized census and monitoring of
wolf population
M.
• No nation‐wide system of standarized census and wolf monitoring
in Poland.
• The Central Statistical Office annually publishan information on
numer of wolf population based on reports provided by regional
directorates of environmental protection (RDEPs).
• RDEPs request for data from local NGOs, scientists,
environmentalists, forest divisions and hunters.
Fot. R. Mysłajek
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Action 1. Standardized census and monitoring of
wolf population
M.
• 2001-2009. National wolf and lynx census, coordinated by the Mammal
Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences and the Association for
Nature „Wolf”, partly financed by the State Forest Service.
• 2001-present. Wolf monitoring in western Poland conducted by the
Association for Nature „Wolf”, supported by IFAW, EuroNatur, Wolves
and Humans fundation and own sources.
• 1997-present. Wolf monitoring in the western-most part of Carpathian
Mountains, conducted by the Association for Nature „Wolf”, financed
partly by Wolves and Humans Foundation and EuroNatur. Since 2014
joint project with Hnuti Duha from Czech Republic.
• 2014/2015. Wolf census in NE Poland conducted by State Forest Service
in co-operation with Association for Nature „Wolf”.
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Action 1. Standardized census and monitoring of
wolf population
M.
• 2005-2009. Studies on the wolf
genetic structure in Poland
conducted by the Mammal Research
Institute Polish Academy of
Sciences and the Assciation for
Nature „Wolf”.
• 2010-present. Genetic monitoring of
wolves in western Poland conducted
by the Association for Nature „Wolf”,
since 2014 together with the Institute
of Genetics and Biotechnology
Faculty of Biology University of
Warsaw.
In 2014 - Central European Wolf Consortium – joint genetic research on
wolf dispersal in Europe.
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Action 2.Transboundary cooperation
M.
Wolves strictly protected (Central European population)
• Poland
• Germany
• Czech Republic
Wolves hunted (Baltic and Carpathian populations)
• Slovakia
• Lithuania
• Ukraine
• Belarus
• Russia
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Action 2.Transboundary cooperation
M.
• Polish-German wolf working group
• One or two meetings per year
• Joint reports.
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Action 2.Transboundary cooperation
M.
• Polish-Slovak large carnivore working group
• Irregular meetings: June 2012, April 2013.
• Since 2013/14 harvest quota limited to 80-90 wolves
• Buffer zone along Polish-Slovak state border without wolf
hunting
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0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Hunting quota
Wolf harvest
Wolf hunting in Slovakia 2007-2014 N
um
ber
of
wolv
es
Hunting seasons
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Action 3. Prevention and compensation measures
to reduce livestock depredation
M.
• Compensation paid by regional directorates for environmental
protection
• Annual compensation: ca. 110.000 EUR – 5.3% of compensation paid
for all species (eg. for the beaver compensation amount is 20x higher)
• Numerous projects supporting farmers – livestock protection measures,
guidebooks and trainings.
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Action 6. Habitat fragmentation and connectivity
M.
• Project of ecological corridors linking Natura 2000 sites
elaborated in 2004.
• Habitat suitability model for wolves in Poland elaborated in
2008 and 2011. Results of wolf habitat suitability model - predicted values
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Natura 2000 sites protecting wolf habitats
M.
73 sites
15,284 km2
25% wolf habitats in Poland
Source: Reinhardt, Kluth, Nowak & Mysłajek, 2013
Fot. R. Mysłajek
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Action 6. Habitat fragmentation and connectivity
M.
• 96 overpasses and 353 underpasses for large terrestrial mammals
already built (over 200 planned on new motorways).
• Post-investment monitoring proved that wolves use these wildlife
crossing structures.
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Action 7. Education and information
M.
Numerous educational campaignes conducted by NGOs
and govermental bodies
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Action 7. Education and information
M.
Books about wolves for adults and children
Adam Wajrak Wolves Aniela Cholewińska Chaber the wolf pup
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Action 7. Education and information
M.
Books about wolves for adults and children
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Acknowledgements
Association for Nature „Wolf” is supported by
Wolf genetics group of the Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology,
Faculty of Biology University of Warsaw is supported by
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Thank you for your attention