Information about the wolf movement in Žďárské vrpy was given to nature conservationists by the local hunter, whose photopast was captured by the wolf. Subsequent tracking in the field was evidenced by additional residence features, such as a typical track on the snow and fresh wolfs. "The last wolf was shot in Žďárské vrchy, in the cadastral area of Vojtěchov village, in 1830. Thanks to the local hunter we know that after almost 190 years the wolf returns to the landscape of Žďárské vrchy. Whether it stays here depends on the tolerance of local people. I believe that we have a common interest with rational hunters and breeders, " says Miroslav Kutal, Coordinator of the Monitoring of Big Beasts from the DUHA Movement.
From a DNA analysis of the obtained dung, experts promise to obtain valuable information about the origin of the captured animal. Will it be a wolf from the Carpathians, Central European lowlands or other populations? A scientific study published last month in the Diversity and Distribution magazine showed that the Czech Republic is at the crossroads of wolves from various European populations . A wolf slaughtered in March this year on D1, for example, came from the 300 km of the mountainous Carpathian Mountains .
"The obstacle to faster settlement of our landscape by the beasts is poaching and dense road network, in the Highlands it is above all the almost impassable D1 motorway. It has become fatal, for example, for lynx and lynx. Similar data and other observations suggest the importance of the Highlands for long-distance movements of large mammals. But these animals can find suitable places for permanent occurrence, " says Václav Hlaváč from the Nature Protection Agency of the Czech Republic.
Scientists hope they will get another part in the puzzle about the resettlement of the Czech landscape of the wolf. As with the recent report on the movement of the wolf in Sternberg, the current occurrence in Vysočina is further evidence that these beasts can emerge almost anywhere in the Czech Republic during long-distance movements or search for a new territory. The return of the wolves is beneficial for the Czech landscape because the wolves help to reduce the conditions of wild ungulates and damage to the forests caused by these overgrowths by herbivores.
According to nature conservationists, sharing information on wolves is very important to ensure preventive measures for livestock breeders whose unsecured herds could attack the wolf. Early information on the occurrence of the wolf and the implementation of measures to secure pastures can effectively defend the breeders' property and enable the wolf to have a seamless cohabitation with humans. Breeders can obtain funding for preventive measures, for example, from the Operational Program Environment.
Source: Ekolist.cz
