Photo Matteo Zeni - ABNP Conservation status of the Brown bear in the Alps Claudio Groff Cogne (AO) April 22 nd, 2013
Program: Status of the brown bear in the central Alps - 2012 Status of the brown bear in the eastern Alps (mentions) - 2012 Management prospects in the italian Alps
Bodies involved in the bear monitoring in the Alps: Autonomous Province of Trento (I) Autonomous Province of Bolzano (I) Lombardia Region (I) Veneto Region (I) Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia (I) Canton Grisons (CH) Land Tirol, Land Carinthia (A) University of Wien (A) Slovenian Forest Service, University of Lubiana (SLO)
Huge genetic monitoring effort
Main monitoring results: litters (34) and cubs (69) 2002-12
Reproduction 14F e 5M have reproduced (2002-2012) Average number of cubs per litter 2.06 (2002-2012, n = 34 69) Average age of primiparous females 3.67 (2006-2012 n=9) At least 7 sexually mature males At least 12 sexually mature females Average gap between consecutive litters 2.11 years (2002-2012 n= 18 gaps, 9 females) 7 litters in 2012 (16 cubs: 7M, 2F, 7ind.)
Structure of the population Minimum certain population (43) : 22 males, 14 females, 7 indeterminate
Age groups
Population trend
% of bears identified 2002-2011
Missing (n=31) and dead (n=14) bears (2012: 5 bears dead +1, 2 more missing, 1 more emigrated)
Survival rates 11 years - 64 bears - 291 years/bear
Population balance Tot. + 39
Use of territory 2012 (genetic) Density in core area: 3.2 bears/100 km 2 36 bears in Trentino, 3 in Lombardia (M7, M9, MJ2G1), 2 in Veneto (DG2, M4), 2 in South Tyrol (M1,DJ1G1)
Dispersion 21 bears moved out of the province (2005-2012) of these: 2 killed for management reasons (*M13 excluded) 2 run over cars 2 are currently considered to have emigrated 1 disappeared 14 were still present during 2012 (6 came back to Trentino or roam in bordering areas, 8 are still out of the province)
Alpine bears of the Dinaric population I: Friuli Venezia Giulia - 2012 -KJ2G2 Source: Friuli V.G. Region University of Udine Corpo Forestale Tarvisio 5 bears in 2012 -M8 -Gen 04-E -Gen 17 -Gen 15
Alpine bears of the Dinaric population II: Slovenian Alps - 2007-21 bears estimated in 2007-12M, 5F + 4 CMR but: - no females in the north (out of a couple of times recently) - most of them in the prealpine area - most of them shared with Friuli V.G. and Carinthia Source: Tomaz Skrbinsek Animal Ecology Group, BF University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Alpine bears of the Dinaric population III: Carinthia (A) KJ2G2 / 2009 Ktn-05 / 2011 Ktn-01 / 2004 KJ2G2 / 2010+2011 Ktn-02 / 2008 Ktn-03 / 2008 Ktn-04 / 2010 Source: Jorg Rauer Fiwi University of Wien, Austria - No sistematic monitoring in Carinthia, just very opportunistically - 6 bears detected in 2004-2011, 2 in 2011 and 1 in 2012. - All males
Main management data in Trentino
Problem bears Problem bears 2010: M6 - JJ5 - M2 Daniza - DJ3 Problem bears 2011: M6 - JJ5 - M2 Daniza Problem bears 2012: x Daniza - M6 - JJ5 - M2 x 73% of all damages in 2012 caused by 4 bears
Damages prevention
Support to the shepherds 43 pastures monitored; 21 flocks managed with electric fences (14.000 sheep and goats); 20 helicopter flights; 4 box-structures provided; 9 attacks reported 30 sheep preyed or lost : 0,2 % of the protected livestock
Activities of emergency team
The social context dramatic decrease in public support 75,4 Favorevole 73,2 30,3 16,2 Contrario 20,6 64,6 8,5 Astenuti/indecisi 6,2 5,2 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 1997 2003 2011
Reasons of the public support drop: Strong increase of bears population and related conflicts with humans Weakness of G.O. communication and media management Lack of efficacy and coordinated management for potential removal of the few problem bears, and consequent dramatic bad advertising on bears
Final remarks Good genetic monitoring standards and networking, out of Carinthia (A) 11 years of strong growth in central Alps: wich factors? (availability of food, refuge areas, human tolerance, adaptability of bears, habitat quality, climate in southern Alps, what else..?) Stagnant situation in the eastern Alps; very few females No gene flow occurred between the two populations Genetic viability to keep strictly monitored in the central Alps Negative data from the social context Need to update the criteria for the management of problem bears; work in progress involving Regions, Ministry of Environment and ISPRA Always keep in mind that we ve to manage more in terms of "population" than "individual" and more in terms of "ecosystem" than single "species"
Thank you for your attention