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A PUBLIC SESSION ON WOLVES CONSERVATION AND PRACTICES TO ACHIEVE A COEXISTANCE WITH LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION TOOK PLACE LAST MONTH IN ALTO MINHO, WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF CIBIO-InBIO RESEARCHERS

A PUBLIC SESSION ON WOLVES CONSERVATION AND PRACTICES TO ACHIEVE A COEXISTANCE WITH LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION TOOK PLACE LAST MONTH IN ALTO MINHO, WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF CIBIO-InBIO RESEARCHERS

A public session took place on February 28th in Arga de Baixo, in the Alto Minho region, with the purpose of discussing the presence of a wolf pack recently identified in the surrounding area and the best husbandry practices to minimize wolf predation on livestock.

 

Several organizations involved in wolf conservation and research, such as CIBIO-InBIO, ICNF (Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e Florestas) and ACHLI (Associação da Conservação do Habitat do Lobo Ibérico) were present in this session. The main goal of this initiative was to provide some explanations concerning the wolf occurrence in the region and offer solutions to the local population, namely involving livestock protection using livestock-guarding dogs and efficient fences; granting financial support to breeders so that they can purchase and sustain those livestock-guarding dogs; increasing the density of wild preys (wildboar and roedeer); and starting to foresee wolves and their relation to society as a business opportunity, through eco-tourism activities.

 

An unprecedented research study focused on the wolves in Alto Minho region is currently being conducted by CIBIO-InBIO, with the involvement of Francisco Álvares and Helena Rio-Maior from the CONGEN Group, whose results confirm the re-establishment of a breeding pack – 4 adults and 3 pup – in Serra da Arga, where this species was virtually absent since 2003. In an interview to the local newspaper O Caminhense and to Jornal de Notícias, Helena Rio-Maior explained to the public how the GPS system was placed in wolves in order to track their movements and study their behavior, detailing some of the results on wolf population dynamics, mortality and dispersal. Francisco Álvares was also interviewed by O Caminhense in regards to this very same study and tried to debunk some myths associated to the wolves. By sharing some insights about the status of this large carnivore in Portugal, and by presenting some statistical data, Francisco showed that the current distribution area has only around 20% of its original size and that the amount of wolves is considerably low in number. Francisco explained that the wolf population size and range in Portugal is still reduced, which emphasizes the importance for the protection of this species.

 

To know more about this issue, please visit the following links:

 

Mouro cruzou A3 até às Argas | Jornal de Notícias | Mar 2, 2015 (in Portuguese only)

 

População da Serra d’Arga revoltada e amedrontada com ataques do lobo | O Caminhense | Mar 3, 2015 (in Portuguese only)

 

Há mais ataques, mas não há mais lobos | TVI24 | Mar 23, 2015 (in Portuguese only)

 

Ataques de lobos no Gerês | SIC | Mar 25, 2015 (in Portuguese only)

2015-03-20
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