Young wolves spotted in the Czech Beskydy Mountains for the first time
12.8.2020, Selmy.cz
The wolf pack that settled in the Beskydy Mountains near the Czech-Polish border a few years ago gave birth to several pups this spring. It is the first confirmed reproduction of wolves in this area since their return to the Czech side of the range.
Wolf cub in the Silesian Beskydy. Photo from camera trap, Jiri Labuda, Hnutí DUHA Olomouc
Another area where the breeding of wolves has been confirmed is the Javorníky Mountains, where wolf pups were monitored last year. In both cases, the information was obtained from the monitoring conducted by the Friends of the Earth Czech Republic (Hnutí DUHA).
"In the coming months, we will closely follow the movement of all wolf families in the Silesian Beskydy and Javorníky. We also welcome information about the movement of wolves and other large carnivores from the public, which can be sent to the e-mail stopy@selmy.cz," says Michal Bojda, the coordinator of the large carnivores monitoring in the Beskydy region.
Wolves now occur on both sides of the Czech-Polish border in Silesia. "Wolves have been appearing on the Polish side of the Silesian range of the Beskydy Mountains since 1995, shortly after the wolf as a species became strictly protected throughout Poland. In the Silesian Beskydy Mountains, there are currently at least two breeding packs on the Polish side," explains Robert Mysłajek from the association Wilk, which has long been involved in wolf research in Poland.
Young wolves caught on camera trap in Javorníky. Photo: Michal Bojda, Hnutí DUHA Olomouc
For livestock farmers, the presence of wolves means they need to protect their herds better than they had in the past when there was less of a threat from predators.
The occurrence of wolves in the area between Třinec and Jablunkov in the Frýdek-Místek district of the Moravia-Silesia region has been accompanied by an increase in attacks on sheep since spring. Most damages occurred on insufficiently secured pastures, according to Hnutí Duha experts. Farmers can get compensation for their losses under certain conditions.
"The occurrence of the wolf pack in the Silesian Beskydy region is a great challenge for nature protection and local livestock breeders. Wolves can live in varied habitats, from quiet, densely wooded places to urban or frequently visited areas. Unfortunately, damages to livestock, especially sheep, sometimes occur. Providing reliable information to the local people, along with the advice and assistance to farmers on the best measures for protecting their livestock is the most important aspect if we are to ensure the coexistence of wolves and human," comments Jiří Labuda, a field worker of Hnutí Duha Olomouc in the Silesian Beskydy Mountains.
Roman Cieslar, a sheep breeder from Bystřice nad Olší, explained how the presence of the wolf population in the area forced him to take steps to protect his sheep. "To prevent large-scale attacks by large carnivores, I have improved the system of electric fences, I also use shepherd dogs and keep animals locked overnight in the enclosure. The sheep are slowly getting used to the presence of our shepherd dogs and are now better protected against the possible attacks of predators," he said.
Wolves are gradually coming back to the Czech Republic where they were extinct in the past. In 2019, there were an estimated 18 wolf territories, an increase of two since the previous year.
Friends of the Earth Czech Republic (Hnutí DUHA) are offering help to farmers with the protection of herds against the wolf attacks; they are providing advice on the most efficient protective measures and assistance with the application process for state subsidies. More information is available at www.ochranaovci.cz (in Czech) or via e-mail info@ochranaovci.cz.
Contacts:
Michal Bojda, the coordinator of the large carnivores monitoring in the Beskydy region from Hnutí DUHA, michal.bojda@hnutiduha.cz
Jiří Labuda, a field worker of Hnutí DUHA, jiri.labuda@hnutiduha.cz
Václav Tomášek, Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, Beskydy PLA Administration, vaclav.tomasek@nature.cz
