Annual Report 2018 EuroNatur Foundation

Photo: Heinz Lehmann - Wolves (Canis lupus)
Hunted hunters: Wolves in Slovakia
Geographical location in Europe
Central Slovakia
Status
Despite Slovakia’s EU membership and the resultant status
of wolves as a strictly protected species, wolves can still
officially be hunted in Slovakia. This is particularly problematic
given that there are no reliable data on the size of
the Slovakian wolf population. Moreover, the hunting of
wolves in Slovakia negatively impacts on the populations
in neighbouring countries; in essence Slovakia is a sort of a
Bermuda triangle for wolves in eastern Central Europe.
Objectives
Our aim is to have a scientifically sound monitoring system
in place for wolves which produces reliable estimates as to
the country’s wolf population. Only on that basis can we
put forward recommendations for the cull quota. For the
short-term we call for a reduction in the numbers culled
and for an expansion of the protection zones for wolves.
Our long-term objective is the complete cessation of wolf
culls in Slovakia.
Selected activities in 2018
Our partners at CWS continued their monitoring of wolf
populations in Polána and Velka Fatra and commenced
new monitoring efforts in the Slovak Karst National Park.
Reliable data on wolf populations are particularly important
given the planned construction of a motorway in the
immediate vicinity of the national park and given the fact
that the areas around the Slovak Karst national park constitute
a well frequented wolf migration corridor. We need
sound arguments in favour of the construction of wildlife
crossings.
Important achievements in 2018
Owing to targeted PR work and intensive cooperation
with hunters and livestock producers we were able to
enhance the wolves’ reputation in Slovakia.
Outlook
The monitoring of wolf populations in Slovakia by our partners
is to be continued until such time as a sound estimate
of the species’ current status is available for the entire
country. When it comes to the construction of motorways
along the wolves’ migration corridors, we will push for the
construction of wildlife crossings.
Increasingly fewer wolf culls
Despite the ongoing critical situation, together with
our partners at CWS we have achieved a steady reduction
in the cull quota for wolves in Slovakia in
recent years, i.e. from 150 individuals in 2010 to 70
individuals in the most recent quota. Additionally we
were able to achieve a ban on the hunting of wolves
with dogs as well as a maximum cull of one wolf per
hunting area and year. These achievements are due
in part to the good cooperation between CWS and
Slovakia’s nature conservation authority.
Partner: CWS
Funding: EuroNatur‘s donors and sponsors
Europe’s large mammals
Annual Report 2018
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