Region: BLS
User: Union of Hunters and Anglers in Bulgaria
MS: BG
The assessment of the wolf population in Bulgaria is greatly underestimated and based on expert evaluation without using monitoring data. It is not clear why the future prospects for the species are cited as unfavorable when the wolf population is growing and continues to occupy new territories in Bulgaria.
The data we provide, about the population number in the "Best value" column is the official data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (MAFF) in the spring of 2018 (before cubs are born). According the MAFF the number of the wolves over the whole territory of the country is 2649 individuals.
The official statistic of MAFF is a result of the annual monitoring which hunters are obligated to carry out in their hunting grounds. It includes year-round observations and a deliberate monitoring in March before the cubs are born. It is also taken into account the hunting bag statistic.
The increase of the wolf population in the last 20 years in Bulgaria is an undisputable fact, it is due to the increased area of young forests, the demographic crisis in the country - depopulation of broad territories, the removal of border facilities, which has facilitated new routes of interaction with the wolf population of the neighboring countries and the increase in wild ungulates populations (For the last 15 years we have a significant increase in the wild boar population with over 95 %)
by Union of Hunters and Anglers in Bulgaria
2020-03-06 16:03
From the previous reporting of Bulgaria under Art. 17 (2007 – 2012), the wolf estimation is 710 – 873 ind. This estimation is based on planned survey, approved by the Ministry of Environment and Waters and included in the National Biodiversity Monitoring System. It is scientifically based and statistically analyzed. Fieldwork, based on robust methods was carried out in all NATURA 2000 sites, designated for wolf conservation. Estimation in the Red Data Book is similar - 700 - 800 individuals. While the "the official data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (MAFF)" is based on "all the year observations" (stated in all census reports in the last more than 10 years). Most of the reported units are with average size 20 - 40 km2 – much smaller than average home range of wolves, which is 150 km2 at the average, 250 km2 respectively (Red Data Book). That leads to double (and sometimes triple) counting of the same individuals (or wolf packs). The data from hunting bag (wolves) is not considered. In the last 25 years according to MAFF the number of wolves is constantly increasing, while the hunting bag is fluctuating (Mihaylov & Stoyanov 2012).
by BALKANI Wildlife Society
2020-03-08 20:30
Both comments question the size of the wolf population in Bulgaria, and more specifically in the Black Sea region. However none of them would lead to revisiting the favourable status of the population parameter in the assessment. The current U1 assessment is based on the future prospects and no information is brought on this particular aspect. Therefore the comments can not be used in the EU assessment. As Bulgaria is the sole MS in this region, this controverse will be mentioned in the datasheet. It is kindly suggested to bring the information to the Bulgarian authorities.
The assessment of the wolf population in Bulgaria is greatly underestimated and based on expert evaluation without using monitoring data. It is not clear why the future prospects for the species are cited as unfavorable when the wolf population is growing and continues to occupy new territories in Bulgaria.
The data we provide, about the population number in the "Best value" column is the official data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (MAFF) in the spring of 2018 (before cubs are born). According the MAFF the number of the wolves over the whole territory of the country is 2649 individuals.
The official statistic of MAFF is a result of the annual monitoring which hunters are obligated to carry out in their hunting grounds. It includes year-round observations and a deliberate monitoring in March before the cubs are born. It is also taken into account the hunting bag statistic.
The increase of the wolf population in the last 20 years in Bulgaria is an undisputable fact, it is due to the increased area of young forests, the demographic crisis in the country - depopulation of broad territories, the removal of border facilities, which has facilitated new routes of interaction with the wolf population of the neighboring countries and the increase in wild ungulates populations (For the last 15 years we have a significant increase in the wild boar population with over 95 %)
From the previous reporting of Bulgaria under Art. 17 (2007 – 2012), the wolf estimation is 710 – 873 ind. This estimation is based on planned survey, approved by the Ministry of Environment and Waters and included in the National Biodiversity Monitoring System. It is scientifically based and statistically analyzed. Fieldwork, based on robust methods was carried out in all NATURA 2000 sites, designated for wolf conservation. Estimation in the Red Data Book is similar - 700 - 800 individuals.
While the "the official data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (MAFF)" is based on "all the year observations" (stated in all census reports in the last more than 10 years). Most of the reported units are with average size 20 - 40 km2 – much smaller than average home range of wolves, which is 150 km2 at the average, 250 km2 respectively (Red Data Book). That leads to double (and sometimes triple) counting of the same individuals (or wolf packs). The data from hunting bag (wolves) is not considered. In the last 25 years according to MAFF the number of wolves is constantly increasing, while the hunting bag is fluctuating (Mihaylov & Stoyanov 2012).
Both comments question the size of the wolf population in Bulgaria, and more specifically in the Black Sea region. However none of them would lead to revisiting the favourable status of the population parameter in the assessment. The current U1 assessment is based on the future prospects and no information is brought on this particular aspect. Therefore the comments can not be used in the EU assessment. As Bulgaria is the sole MS in this region, this controverse will be mentioned in the datasheet. It is kindly suggested to bring the information to the Bulgarian authorities.
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