Although the state of biodiversity in Europe is far from ideal and almost a quarter of the European species by the European Commission is close to extinction, a group of large carnivores is surprisingly doing very well. At least one of the five species of European nature of heraldic beasts - brown bear, wolf, wolverine and lynx - live today in at least 21 EU Member States.
After decades of decline in the populations of wild carnivores in recent years, on the contrary, their quantity increases rapidly. For example, the brown bear population grew between 2005-2012 at a rate of 1% per year to approximately 17,000 individuals. In Scandinavia, the local bear population has doubled. Today, they live in the north of Europe less than two thousand individuals, whereas in 1930 there were only 130 pieces.
On Tuesday against a platform, signed by seven pan-European organizations, including the European Commission for the Environment, the European branch of WWF or association of national parks EUROPARC Federation. The aim of the platform is primarily seek a balance between the interests of landowners, farmers and hunters on the one hand and scientists, conservationists and the Beast of course on the other.
Conservationists in the Czech Republic this year to rejoice that in Germany returned to North Bohemia, wolves, wild cat appears to Beskydy and regularly visiting Bears of Slovakia. A permanent resident of the Czech basin is the lynx, which lives mainly in the Bohemian Forest, but its presence was also confirmed by conservationists in Beskydy Jeseníkách or Giant Mountains.
Welcomes the establishment of a platform and association protected areas EUROPARC Czech Republic. "In recent years, fortunately, are beginning to return large European nature of the beast. People in their presence, of course, after a very long absence, in the case of the Giant Mountains, for example, more than 130L, are used to and might fear caused by the existence of many myths or even fairy tales, "said President Ekolistu.cz EUROPARC Czech Republic Jakub Kaspar.
According to him, the platform can help their removal and dissemination of understandable information on how to actually beasts is. "That it is no bloodthirsty beast, but very shy creatures, when they can, avoiding the man. We also can help return the understanding of coexistence with beasts such as the breeder of cattle and other livestock, "promises to Kaspar.
Return wolves or features simply not welcoming everyone. Across Europe raises concern or even disgust at sheep farmers, hunters, foresters, but also in the villages or. According to the WWF at greatest conflicts exactly where the lost knowledge of traditional animal husbandry. The platform would like to mitigate the negative view of these opponents and, if possible, to find a solution that would avert the conflict.
The development of large carnivores in Europe
Brown bear (Ursus arctos)
The population grew from 15,800 units in 2005 to 17,000 in 2012. Bears in Karelia (region in northern Europe divided between Russia and Finland) multiplied from 850 to 1,700 individuals and populations in Scandinavia has grown from 2,600 to 3,400 bears . Bears also added in the Cantabrian Mountains in Spain for the past ten years the population has grown from one hundred to two hundred animals.
Lynx (Lynx lynx)
Lynx population in Europe increased from 8,000 units in 2001 to around 10,000 individuals in 2012. This represents an increase of twenty percent. In Karelia multiplied from 870 to 2,500 individuals and in the Jura in France, the number of 80 to 100 individuals.
Wolf (Canis lupus)
Wolf populations in Europe, reaching a total of about 12 500 individuals. In Scandinavia, the number has doubled from 150 to 300 over the last decade. In Germany and Poland, with a dramatic increase from the original 19 to 150 individuals in ten years. However, in some areas, such as in southern Spain, the return of wolves fail. In 2012 there appeared a few pieces.
The wolverine (Gulo gulo)
Wolverine population in the last seven years has doubled, from 675 units in 2005 to 1,250 in 2012. Largest increase took place in Sweden and Finland.
Source: Ekolist.cz
Author: Hugo Noah