engleski

Problem bears in Croatia: numbers, trend and management

It is widely recognized that not each bear causes human-related problems with equal frequency. Certain individuals may develop living strategies less tolerable by humans. High human density and improper management of edible items (crops, livestock, garbage) in bear range is favoring development of problem-making bears. With expectations that this world-wide trend did affect the Dinara mountains population of European brown bears (Ursus arctos) we reviewed the 15-year- records of appearance of nuisance and livestock-killing bears in Croatia. Objectives were to determine the numbers, trend, circumstances, typical outcome and to recommend mitigation measures for future. A total of 21 problem bears were determined: 15 had the history of feeding on garbage and/or crops, 3 were killing livestock, and 3 were both killing livestock and feeding on garbage. At least 15 of this bears have been killed (only 4 in planned actions) and for the remaining 6 the doom remained unknown. Six of killed bears were frequent around military facilities and all were killed by soldiers on guard. Among the bears of known sex and age 8 were male and 4 female (one with 2 cubs), 9 were adults, 3 subadults and 2 cubs. Two bears swam 0.5 km of sea channel to the island Krk and killed sheep there. Important fact is that only 5 cases occurred in the period 1983-89, and 16 in the period 1990-97 what represents the considerable trend of increase. Additionally, at least 18 of 73 bears killed by traffic in Croatia in the last 30 years, have been attracted to traffic lines (9 to rail roads and 9 to roads) by some sources of human related food. They all died before they could have been recognized as problem bears. No official policy has yet been established how to handle all such situations. No adverse conditioning have been attempted either. As the population in Croatia is still in fair numbers the individual losses of bears have not been major problem so far. More critical are the recorded trend and the negative public image which bears with unnatural behavior raise: negative press releases, fear and false feeling of hyperpopulation. Pilot action plan to limit the access of bears to garbage is under way in the critical part of bear range in Croatia.

Brown bear; Croatia; problem bears; management

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