International Journal of Advances in Science Engineering and Technology, ISSN(p): 2321 –8991, ISSN(e): 2321 –9009 Volume-7, Issue-3, Jul.-2019, http://iraj.in WOLVES RETURNING TO THE KAMPINOS NATIONAL PARK - PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE POPULATION (CASE STUDY) 1KATARZYNA WIELGORSKA, 2KATARZYNA BAGINSKA, 3JOANNA GRUSZCZYNSKA, 4BEATA GRZEGRZOLKA 1,3,4Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Faculty of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW 2,4Scientific Association of Experimental and Laboratory Animals, Warsaw University of Life Sciences- SGGW E-mail: [email protected] Abstract - Protecting endangered species is one of the main problems in current ecology. Effective protection is possible only when knowledge about not only a species, but his environment, behaviour and diet is well studied. Wolves (Canis lupus) population in Poland is still growing, yet there are still places where those animals are returning after decades and their population is not stable yet, like in Kampinos National Park in central Poland. To protect local population of wolves in this area it is important to study their presence along with behaviour and diet, which allows to take steps to protect them better and provide their constant presence and reproduction in this special forest. Keywords - Wolf, Wolf Diet, Kampinos National Park, Wildlife Protection, Canis Lupus. I. WSTEP valley, in the western part of the Warsaw Basin (Map 1.) (Piniewski et al. 2012). As a National Park Kampinos National Park (KNP) is located in the was created in 1959, to protect unique complex of the Masovian Province, west from the largest city of inland dunes and wetlands. KNPcovers 385,44 square Poland - Warsaw. Its range covers the area of the kilometers and the73,3% of this area are forest lands Kampinos Forest located in the area of the Vistula's (Lesiński et al. 2013). Map 1. Kampinos National Park. The dunes are coverd mostly by pine-oak forest also small stagnant water reservoirs, mostly created (Lesiński et al. 2013) andpartially by coniferous artificially (old fish ponds, peat excavations and forest (Andrzejwska et al. 2010).Most common trees retention reservoirs). are pine (Pinus sylvestris) oaks (Quercus sp.), alder (Alnus glutinosa) and birch(Birches sp.). The area of KNP is characterized by a varied terrain relief compared to the remaining areas of the The Vistula is flowing along the northern boundary of Masovian Plain (Piniewski et al. 2012). Wetlands are the KPN buffer zone, with the Narew and its cut by dunesand valleys along watercourses tributaries flowing into it, and Bzura flows along the (Tyburski 2017), and differences in altitude between western boundary of the buffer zone (Bomanowska them can reach up to 30 m. Animportant element in and Michalska-Hejduk 2009). The entire landscape of KNPare also open areas with non-forest Kampinos Forest is criss-crossing a network of canals communities.Those areas have an anthropological and small watercourses. On the area of KNP there are origin, created in the deforested areas, existing thanks Wolves Returning to The Kampinos National Park - Protection and Development of The Population (Case Study) 1 International Journal of Advances in Science Engineering and Technology, ISSN(p): 2321 –8991, ISSN(e): 2321 –9009 Volume-7, Issue-3, Jul.-2019, http://iraj.in to systematic mowing and pasture (Michalska-Hejduk (Olszewski 2015, Olszewski 2016). Initial genetic 2004). They play an important role as animal refuges testing confirmed that wolves in KNP belong to the and feeding grounds, especially to ungulates, which Baltic population (Diserens et al. 2017, Hulva et al. in turn constitute a food base for large predators. 2018) and most likely came to this area from north- eastern Poland. In order to maintain the presence of KNP is also characterized by a diversified soil wolves in the KNP, it is necessary to carry out the profile. There are podzolic and rusty soils in the assessment of the habitat and analyse the food dunes. In the area ofswamps and floodplains terraces preferences of the family group living in KNP, and there are present, among others black lands, peats and then undertake activities aimed at maintaining alluvial soils (Konecka-Betley et al. 1999). favourable habitat conditions for these predators. Due to the varied shape of the terrain and the large II. DETAILS EXPERIMENTAL diversity of habitats, KNP vegetation is very rich. There are forestsand shrubs, water and aquatic areas, 2.1. Assessment of habitat preferences of wolves marshes, rushes and peat bogs, meadows and living in the plains. pastures, dunes, moors and synanthropic habitats The assessment of the suitability of habitat and (Andrzejewska et al. 2010). The diversity of habitats habitat preferences in the case of opportunistic and the presence of swampy areas, dense coppices, species, such as the wolf, is extremely difficult moors and sedges, favours the occurrence of species (Nowak et al. 2017). However, these indicators are that lead a secretive lifestyle, such as wolves, for crucial for the protection of the species, especially in which secluded and inaccessible places are necessary the case of wolves inhabiting new areas (Jędrzejewski for the safe rearing of pups (Okarma 2015). et al. 2004). The KNPfauna is also extremely rich. There are Wolves prefer habitats with high forest cover with a approximately 4000 species of invertebrates, 30 relatively low fragmentation, offering numerous and species of fish, 13 species of amphibians, 6 species of hard-to-reach refuges, rich in food (minimum 50 kg reptiles, over 200 species of birds and over 50 species per square kilometre). They also avoid areas with of mammals (Owadowska et al. 2013). high population density and significant density of In the KNP there are numerous species of mammals linear infrastructure (Jędrzejewski et al. 2005, typical of Polish teriofauna, such as roe deer Jędrzejewski et al. 2008, Okarma 2015, Nowak et al. (Capreolus capreolus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), fox 2017). (Vulpes vulpes) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) (Owadowska et al. 2013, Olszewski 2015). The Wolves also willingly choose areas with easy access mosaic of forest and marsh areas is particularly to water, sandy soils (ease of digging the dens for favourable to the occurrence of moose (Alces alces), puppies) and the presence of shrubs, dense copses which after almost total extermination in the country and drier places among forest swamps and wetlands at the beginning of the 1950s, was reintroduced in the where it is possible to safely hide young ones area of KNP.In 2013, the population of this species in (Theuerkauf et al. 2003, Nowak and Mysłajek 2011, the KNP was over 300 individuals. Okarma 2015). There are also a lot of beavers (Castor fiber) Another crucial factors are the size of the area and the reintroduced to the Kampinos Forest in 1980. Other availability of the habitat - in the plains, the average species also reintroduced to the KNP was Eurasian area of one family group is 140-320 square lynx (Lynx lynx), whose population in 2013 was kilometres (Jędrzejewski and Jędrzejewska 2004), estimated at about 8 individuals (Owadowska et al. while in forests inhabited only by one family group, 2013). these territories may be larger due to the lack of competition from other family groups (Nowak and Wolves (Canis lupus) in Kampinos National Park. Mysłajek 2011). Wolves (Canis lupus)in the area of KNP occurred in the first half of the 20th century. The last individual 2.2. Material and methods was seen in the area of the Kampinos Forest in 1964 In the first part of the study, the KNP habitat was (Olszewski 2015). After embracing the species with assessed based on habitat preferences of wolves strict protection on the area of whole country in 1998, occurring in Poland. Factors affecting the presence of single individuals were occasionallyseen in the Park, the species and the chances of maintaining or but observations concerned only migrating developing the local population were determined. individuals. First confirmed observation (recorded on The second part of the study is based on the camera trap) of the wolves was in 2013, after almost evaluation of the diet and food selectivity of wolves 50 years of their absence in the KNP. In 2015, for the in KNP. Understanding the wolf diet is crucial for first time in history, the reproductive success of the maintaining the local population of the species in group of wolves was found in the KNP area good condition, by limiting the regulation of Wolves Returning to The Kampinos National Park - Protection and Development of The Population (Case Study) 2 International Journal of Advances in Science Engineering and Technology, ISSN(p): 2321 –8991, ISSN(e): 2321 –9009 Volume-7, Issue-3, Jul.-2019, http://iraj.in populations of species that form their feeding base. On the basis of separate samples, the composition of Diet analysis is based on the study of faeces found in the food is expressed as percentage of scats the field. For this purpose, samples are taken to containing various prey in relation to the total number separate bags with a zip fastening with a location (by of faeces, as well as the percentage of biomass of a GPS marking) and the date of finding marked on particular food component in relation to the total them. The samples are then frozen for maintenance biomass consumed by wolves. In the final stage of the until analysis is carried out. After defrosting, research, a comparative analysis of the wolf diet will each sample is dried and then washed out separately be made in a seasonal perspective in order to assess through a 0.5 mm mesh sieve (Lockie 1959, how and whether the food preferences of these Goszczyński 1974), to extract remains of the wolf predators change depending on the season. prey (hair, bones, claws, hooves and hooves).