Wolf attack prevention
Wolf attacks on sheep become an increasing problem in Slovenia, just like in Scandinavia, France, Italy, Switzerland, Croatia and Austria. Predicting wolf attacks at regional level proves difficult, but once locally started, wolf attacks increase dramatically. However, distributions of wolf attacks are uneven and do not relate to the presence of wolves (wolves may be present, but no sheep are attacked) or wild prey animals (local abundance does not stop wolves from predating sheep).
Sheep in the Triglav region in Slovenia
The inability to predict and properly prevent attacks fuels opposition to protection of large predators such as wolves and bears. Much therefore depends on the development of proper tools to predict and prevent attacks and to educate about how to act to prevent encounters with large predators.
CABWIM and specialists of Noah school in Slovenia work on changing wolf behaviour and orientation in relation to the farm practises. This is crucial to prevent attacks. Therefore we developed a two-way project in 2009 in cooperation with the Slovenian sheep and goat breeders association and the Department for Animal Science at the Biotechnical faculty of the university of Ljubljana.
The project involves two parts:
(1) Identification of factors causing wolves to approach.
We are proud to state that this part of the project is financially supported by the Dutch province of Limburg
as well as the German foundation Euronatur.
We will research the difference between farms in the same region with and without wolf attacks. We finalised this project in November 2011 and are now preparing scientific publications of the results.
(2) Humanely deterring wolves where there are attacks. It will be necessary to change wolf routines. We have visited several farms and discussed our approach to deter the wolves. All farmers that suffered from wolf attacks were enthusiastic for our new forms of deterrence. These will be based on a innovative, environmentally friendly approach to negatively reinforce the locally problematic wolves to recognize sheep as food. Moreover, we intend to use modern, but affordable sensor technology on solar power to activate deterring equipment as soon as a wolf approaches the sheep in the (mobile) night enclosure. These approaches are needed if one wants to guide wolves to learn to avoid sheep both for food and for surplus killing.
Our project involves a totally new combination of behavioural, ecological en technological expertise, which can set a model for many other conflicts with large predators. We look forward to work together with other parties and research departments that are interested in combining behavioural expertise with modern technology in order to improve concepts, enhance effectiveness and work on sustainable and locally accepted co-existence with wolves. Also funds that are interested to financially support our work are welcome to contact us
