Helping wolves in Bulgaria

Wolf Study and Conservation Program

Balkan Wildlife Society, Bulgaria
Progress report
July - October 2006

This was the most active summer we have had with the field work of the project because this was the first summer we have had a radio-collared wolf. The female with the radio-collar was followed almost full time, collecting data about the places she inhabits and her day-night activity and the distances she travels in a day (or a night), etc.

In the second week of July, the pack moved away from the den area. The locations obtained by the radio-tracking showed us that wolves are moving up, toward a place which we assumed is their rendezvous site, because two years ago, in July, the whole pack together with the pups answered to our howling, from there. On 19^th of July early in the morning we climbed up to the same high open area from where we howled two years ago. Right after our first howling, the pack answered from the same place, in the valley bellow us. The adults’ voices were accompanied by pups howling and we knew for sure that the pack had reproduced this year. During the following month we ascertained that the female (called by us Siva) spends the days mainly in that valley.

In August, we went searching for the rendezvous site, following the tracking signal and already knowing locations from previous radio-tracking. We found some resting places and the wolves were very close to us all the time. As we were following the female by her signal, she tended to keep the same distance from us every time we tried to approach her. In September the pack’s travels became longer and in October there were some more frequent wolf attacks on the livestock in the area, which is so every year, because the “training courses” for the pups start.

On 1^st of October the hunting season for large game started. On 15^th of October, hunters had managed to shoot a male wolf puppy from this pack. We met them by chance a bit after they had shot it. We took a tissue sample for DNA analysis, took a photo of the animal and they rushed away.

Apart from the field work, we were very busy with other things. We got many visitors, who wanted to see the wolves and our bear. Some pupil groups visited us and spent a day listening to interesting things about wolves and bears and meeting the animals.

On 23^rd of July there was a combined event in Vlahi. It was the annual village gathering made usually on St. Ilia’s day, but this year combined with the Pirin’s days. The Pirin’s days holidays are number of events in different towns around Pirin Mts. This year the final event was chosen to happen in Vlahi. A lot of people came to the village and visited the wolves and the bear.

The refurbishment work of the LC Centre started in the beginning of October, because the building company made some delays again. However, from one point of view it was good for us, because until that time we did not have definitive answer from the German foundation DBU, that the approved amount from them will be given to the Centre. Eventually, we got their final confirmation and then it wasn’t so risky anymore to start the building work. Our hopes are that by the end of April 2007 we should officially open the LC Centre even though not completely finished.

Prepared by:

Elena Tsingarska - Sedefcheva