The future prospects should be considered at least U1, because according to the national hunting law wolf hunting is done without any quota or closed season https://www.lex.bg/laws/ldoc/2134941184 . There are no legal limits to wolf hunting, in Bulgaria. Together with each license, issued to a hunter for small or big game, license for hunting of predators (including wolf) is issued, as well. Additionally, out of the hunting period of small or big game, wolves can be hunted all year round. Wolves are allowed for hunting everywhere at any time of the year, with the only exception for the three National Parks (NP). The Alpine Biogeographical region includes West Rhodope Mts. (not a NP), where wolves are hunted all year round, using also attraction by carrion, because they are an obstacle to the intensive game breeding in the numerous State Game enterprises in the whole area. The Alpine Biogeographical region includes also West Stara Planina Mts., where State Game enterprises exist too, where the same methods of more intensive wolf hunting are practiced.
The species is the main target for poisoning. Only for 2017 and 2018, 9 - 10 wolves are known to be poisoned only in Rila and Pirin Mts., which are exactly in the Alpine Biogeographical region (one of the animals with GPS collar, others found in the field and analized). The overall number of unrecorded poisoned wolves in the area is most probably higher. Use of poisonous baits for wolves is used everywhere in the country, where the species is present.
The species is declared “Vulnerable” in Bulgaria by the Red Data Book of Bulgaria, where its population is estimated on 700 – 800 ind. http://e-ecodb.bas.bg/rdb/bg/vol2/Calupus.html The same source stresses on the fact, that some of the main threats to the species population are the all year round hunting and competition and hybridization with feral dogs.
by BALKANI Wildlife Society
2020-03-07 22:29
Due to the rather small proportion of the population hosted by Bulgaria, any change in the BG assessment would not impact EU Alpine status. The information given is however summarized and included in the data sheet.
The future prospects should be considered at least U1, because according to the national hunting law wolf hunting is done without any quota or closed season https://www.lex.bg/laws/ldoc/2134941184 . There are no legal limits to wolf hunting, in Bulgaria. Together with each license, issued to a hunter for small or big game, license for hunting of predators (including wolf) is issued, as well. Additionally, out of the hunting period of small or big game, wolves can be hunted all year round. Wolves are allowed for hunting everywhere at any time of the year, with the only exception for the three National Parks (NP). The Alpine Biogeographical region includes West Rhodope Mts. (not a NP), where wolves are hunted all year round, using also attraction by carrion, because they are an obstacle to the intensive game breeding in the numerous State Game enterprises in the whole area. The Alpine Biogeographical region includes also West Stara Planina Mts., where State Game enterprises exist too, where the same methods of more intensive wolf hunting are practiced.
The species is the main target for poisoning. Only for 2017 and 2018, 9 - 10 wolves are known to be poisoned only in Rila and Pirin Mts., which are exactly in the Alpine Biogeographical region (one of the animals with GPS collar, others found in the field and analized). The overall number of unrecorded poisoned wolves in the area is most probably higher. Use of poisonous baits for wolves is used everywhere in the country, where the species is present.
Another significant threat to the species is its hybridization with the domestic dog. A study published in 2014 (Moura et al., 2014) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258326094_Unregulated_hunting_and_genetic_recovery_from_a_severe_population_decline_The_cautionary_case_of_Bulgarian_wolves?_sg=jEnC4cC4h50ASNgG851Rse7BZT8Pv5-SsZeeECF4tbMpEPnwvrb8lqnhtAAzr_PtuSbBI6rc36UoBNBTGQxlZnPC2DDI97IwKhXORPFF.lzDHBr6E1QA8N9b2T1eHBlR4yt9pOojRDC9M6whysz18DTnXvCKvvPLUQ_0RUC1ciHd8vZkszGqY_nuxzepvUg revealed that from the first 92 wolves sampled from Bulgaria and analized for hybridization, 10 (9,8%) individuals were proven to be wolf-dog hybrids. The study continues, more wolf-dog hybrids are proven in the country, but data is still not published. The combination of wolf hunting during its breeding season and high number of feral dogs in the country increases the threat of wolf-dog hybridization.
The species is declared “Vulnerable” in Bulgaria by the Red Data Book of Bulgaria, where its population is estimated on 700 – 800 ind. http://e-ecodb.bas.bg/rdb/bg/vol2/Calupus.html The same source stresses on the fact, that some of the main threats to the species population are the all year round hunting and competition and hybridization with feral dogs.
Due to the rather small proportion of the population hosted by Bulgaria, any change in the BG assessment would not impact EU Alpine status. The information given is however summarized and included in the data sheet.
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