Bear management in Croatia Djuro Huber Josip Kusak Aleksandra Majić-Skrbinšek Improving coexistence of large carnivores and agriculture in S. Europe
Gorski kotar Slavonija Lika Dalmatia Land & islands 56608 km 2 Forest 24622 km 2 (43.5%) Shrubs 1733 km 2 (3.1%) Other 30253 km 2 (53.4%)
Bear management bodies National large carnivore committee provides expertise to relevant Ministries (15 members) Brown bear management committee produced the Croatian bear management plan and yearly Action plans (including quotas) (8 members) Brown bear emergency team (10 members) Carnivore damage inspectors mostly for wolf and lynx damages on livestock
Brief history In 1950s there were <100 bears Hunting started in 1960s There is about 1000 bears now THE MAIN CHALENGE To continue with trophy hunting of the species that is on - Red lists - Bern Convention -Appendix 1 - CITES
CROATIAN BEAR MANAGEMANT PLAN - GOAL - Maintenance of stable brown bear population in Croatia at the level that secure the long term survival and coexistence with man. SPECIFIC GOALS: 1. Habitat preservation 2. Complying with international legislation 3. Avoidance of risks for humans and their property. 4. Determination and maintenance of desired bear population size 5. Economic benefit for local residents through tourism and hunting 6. Raising of public awareness and sharing management decisions with interest groups.
POPULATION SIZE Biologically possible Social (desirable) CAPACITY The expected density in Croatia could be 10 individual / 100 km 2 and locally up to 20/100 km 2 Possible capacity is about 1100 individuals. Desirable population size is provisionally set at 900 individuals.
ACTIONS 1. Monitoring POPULATION SIZE AND TREND DNA MORTALITY
Istraživane plohe sa baferom od 7.6 km (polumjer prosječnog medvjeđeg životnog prostora): 937.9 km2 Gorski kotar sjever 1000.3 km2 Gorski kotar jug 997.8 km2 Velebit
Obrazac za odstreljenog medvjeda 1. Obrazac se ispunjava za svakog odsrjeljenog medvjeda u 4 kopije 2. Ministarstvo se izvještava telefaksom u roku od 24 sata DATUM Redni broj medvjeda odstrijeljenog u lovištu te godine Dan Mjesec Godina Broj markice Sat Min R. broj medvjeda iz očevidnik a (ispunjava Ministarst vo) Naziv i broj lovišta Telefon Telefaks LOVIŠTE I ODGOVORNA OSOBA Adresa Poštanski broj Odgovorna osoba za lovište Funkcija odgovorne osobe e-mail MJESTO Ime lokaliteta (čeke) Meka hrana Posebne okolnosti odstrela Koordinate (GPS ilii očitane sa karte) X Y LOVAC Ime i prezime Telefon Adresa Zemlja PODACI O MEDVJEDU SPOL I DOB Mužjak Ženka Dob slobodna procjena POSEBNA OBILJEŽJA Boja dlake i pokrivenost Moguće starije ozljede Druge identifikacijske oznake Opće stanj e MASA (VAGANJE) Ukupna masa - kg (ej urtagen) Masa bez utrobe kg Masa mesa kg Masu bez utrobe i masu mesa nije obvezno upisati vikt vikt UZETI UZORCI * Zub pretkutnjak Dlaka sa Körijenom Mišić Ošit Drug o (po dogo
RESEARCH
Poaching low but present 7 u 2005. 3 u 2006. puno više
Reproduction
2. Hunting Hunting season: 1 Mar - 15 May & 1 Oct - 15 Dec Quota: (5) 10 (15) % of estimated population Hunting methods: from hunting stand next to a feeding site 3. Supplemental feeding With food of plant or animal origin
Age structure of dead bears N 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 dob (god) Age by lines in tooth cementum Hunters est. Hunted N = 65 M = 4.9 y. (6.6 y.) Live captured N = 6 M = 2.5 Accidents (traffic) N = 12 M = 1.5 Total N = 86 M = 3.7
Sex structure Hunt Other deaths Total M F M F? M F? 2005 23 8 5 10 7 28 15 7 2006 38 11 12 17 1 50 28 1 TOTAL 51 19 17 27 8 78 43 8 % 73% 27% 39% 61% - 64% 36% - Slovenija genetically shown 43% M, 57% F
4. Conservation of the habitat Effect on bear population should be evaluated for each development plan: Transportation Forestry Agriculture Sport and tourism
5. Garbage
6. Problem bears
7. Bears and tourism
8. Minimizing and compensating damage
Problem of LC damages Prevention Lethal control Compensation
10. Bear emergency team It is important to demonstrate to local people that all unusual events around bears, and especially when there is a problem situation, they are not left alone.
11. International cooperation Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina 12. Revisions of the plan Action plan new each year Management plan - periodically