Status, management and distribution of large carnivores – bear, lynx, wolf & wolverine – in Europe DECEMBER 2012 - Part 2- Status of large carnivores in Europe – update 2012 This document has been prepared with the assistance of Istituto di Ecologia Applicata and with the contributions of the IUCN/SSC Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe (chair: Luigi Boitani) under contract N°070307/2012/629085/SER/B3. Status, management and distribution of large carnivores – bear, lynx, wolf & wolverine – in Europe Petra Kaczensky1, Guillaume Chapron2, Manuela von Arx3, Djuro Huber4, Henrik Andrén2, and John Linnell5 (Editors) 1Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology,University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1, A - 1160 Vienna, AUSTRIA 2Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), SE - 73091 Riddarhyttan, SWEDEN 3Coordinated Research Projects for the Conservation& Management of Carnivores in Switzerland (KORA), Thunstrasse 31, CH-3074 Muri, SWITZERLAND 4University of Zagreb, Biology Department, Veterinary Faculty, Heinzelova 55, HR - 10000 Zagreb, CROATIA 5Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Tungasletta 2, NO-7047 Trondheim, NORWAY Contributors (in alphabetical order): Michal Adamec, Francisco Álvares, Ole Anders, Henrik Andrén, Linas Balciauskas, Vaidas Balys, Peter Bedo, Ferdinand Bego, Juan Carlos Blanco, Luigi Boitani, Urs Breitenmoser, Henrik Brøseth, Ludek Bufka, Raimonda Bunikyte, Guillaume Chapron, Paulo Ciucci, Alexander Dutsov, Thomas Engleder, Christian Fuxjäger, Claudio Groff, Miklós Heltai, Katja Holmala, Bledi Hoxha, Djuro Huber, Yorgos Iliopoulos, Ovidio Ionescu, Gjorge Ivanov, Jasna Jeremić, Klemen Jerina, Petra Kaczensky, Ilpo Kojola, Ivan Kos, Miha Krofel, Jakub Kubala, Sasa Kunovac, Josip Kusak, Miroslav Kutal, John Linnell, Peep Mannil, Ralph Manz, Eric Marboutin, Francesca Marucco, Dimce Melovski, Kujtim Mersini, Yorgos Mertzanis, Robert W. Mysłajek, Sabina Nowak, John Odden, Janis Ozolins, Guillermo Palomero, Milan Paunovic, Jens Persson, Hubert Potočnik, Pierre-Yves Quenette, Georg Rauer, Ilka Reinhardt, Robin Rigg, Andreas Ryser, Valeria Salvatori, TomažSkrbinšek, Aleksandra Skrbinšek-Majić, Aleksandar Stojanov, Jon Swenson, Aleksandër Trajçe, Elena Tzingarska-Sedefcheva, Martin Váňa, Rauno Veeroja, Manuela von Arx, Manfred Wölfl, Sybille Wölfl, Fridolin Zimmermann, Diana Zlatanova This document has been prepared for the European Commission however it reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged Cover: Photo composition by Alessandro Montemaggiori 2 Status of large carnivores in Europe – update 2012 Table of contents Part 2: V. Species Country Reports: 1. Bear 2. Lynx 3. Wolf 3 Status of large carnivores in Europe – update 2012 V. Country Species Summaries 4 Bear - Albania Aleksandër Trajçe Bear distribution in Albania 2006- 2010. Dark cells: permanent presence Grey cells: sporadic occurrence [Please note: neighboring countries can have different criteria and time periods for the definition of cells with permanent and sporadic presences] 1. Distribution The brown bears in Albania are distributed in the mountainous regions of North, East and South- East Albania, usually in high-forest habitats of altitudes 600 m a.s.l. They are found in the Albanian Alps (Bjeshkët e Nëmuna - Prokletije Dinaric- mountains), central-north Pindos mountanious region (Pukë, Mirditë, Lurë, Balgjaj), Korab-Koritnik range in the east, central mountanious region (Qafështamë, Martanesh, Shebenik), central-south region (Shpat, Polis, Valamarë) and southeastern mountanious areas (Prespë, Moravë, Tomorr, Ostrovicë, Hotovë, Shelegur). They seem not to be present in the southwestern mountanious region of the country. The Albanian brown bear distribution is part of the larger Dinaric-Pindos population that spreads from Slovenia in the north to Greece in the south and thus the country’s geographical location is of crucial importance for maintaining the connectivity of this population. 1 2. Population estimates & monitoring Proper monitoring and research on brown bears in Albania have been largely lacking in the past, thus information on their numbers is mostly based on expert estimations. In the past 6 years more solid data on bear presence has been collected, mainly through the work of various projects undertaken by non-profit organizations. Recent camera-trapping surveys, tracking and sign identification as well as questionnaire surveys have generated a good amount of knowledge on the status of brown bears in the country (Trajçe et. al. 2008; Ivanov et. al. 2008; Keçi et. al. 2008; Trajçe & Hoxha 2011). Currently, experts estimate that some 180 – 200 bears might be roaming the mountains of Albania. There is however a clear discrepancy between the official information given by state authorities and experts’ evaluations in regard to the bear population size. The latest official estimation of the bear population in Albania is presented at the Annual Report on the State of Environment for 2009 as consisting of 686 individuals (MoE, 2010). There is however no detail given on the rationale behind this assessment and according to experts’ opinion and field evidence so far, this is a gross overestimation. 3. Legal status & relevant management agencies The brown bear is classified as Vulnerable (VU) according to the Red List of Albania (Red List of Flora & Fauna, 2007) and enjoys a full legal protection status sanctioned by the new Law on Wildlife Protection (2008) and Law on Hunting (2010). The species has been considered as fully protected at least since 1956 as it is sanctioned on the respective governmental decrees at the time. In the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (Bego et al. 1999) the brown bear is selected as a priority species and the development of an action plan for its conservation is recommended as an immediate action to take. In 2007 an action plan was compiled (Bego 2007) and adopted by the Ministry of Environment, however no concrete action has been seen so far in accordance to the document. The institution responsible for brown bear management is the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration. 4. Population goal and population level cooperation There are no explicit population goals for brown bears in Albania. Information on the population trend is lacking, however increased incidences of poaching, habitat degradation and general human encroachment, indicate that the bear population has been facing a dramatic decrease in the past decades and is nowadays at an all time low. Population level cooperation for conservation is good among researchers and non-governmental institutions of the range countries. Unfortunately, up to date, on the GO level there has not been any major initiative of cooperation in regard to brown bear conservation and management. 5. Conflicts and conflict management The wildlife baseline survey conducted by PPNEA in 2006-07 gives primary insights on the conflicts existing between humans and brown bears in Albania. Human-brown bear conflicts seem to be widespread in the country and bears were reported to cause significant damage on crops, fruit trees, and big livestock and to a lesser extent on beehives (Trajce et. al. 2008, Keci et. al. 2008). Human- brown bear conflicts are believed to explain to a certain extent the reasons for illegal killing of brown bears. However, a human dimension study recently conducted by PPNEA to determine public attitudes of the rural population towards large carnivores reveals that the general public opinion 2 towards bear is predominantly positive, the support for their conservation is high and conflicts that brown bears cause are generally tolerated by the local population (Trajce 2010). Currently, there is no form of compensation system and there are no prevention or mitigation measures undertaken by management authorities for addressing the issue of livestock depredation. Traditional livestock herding with presence of shepherd and guarding dogs remain still in place in large parts of the country – particularly in the mountainous regions where also LC species occur. A few initiatives have been implemented in recent years by local NGOs to promote traditional breeds of livestock guarding dogs and donate pure bred animals to a number of shepherds in central and south Albania. 6. Threats The recent work of PPNEA, confirms that the main threats to brown bears in Albania are linked to human persecution and habitat destruction. In addition, one of the main conservation concerns for brown bears in Albania seems to be their use for human entertainment and public attraction objects. Brown bears are increasingly being used either dead or alive by roadside restaurants or other private enterprises as attraction animals, possibly to attract more clients in their premises. This phenomenon seems to be quite widespread and relatively new for the country, having its beginnings only after the 1990s and, as evidence suggests, is spreading at an alarming rate in many restaurants and cafés across Albania. As of August 2011, 28 illegally kept captive bears have been documented and there are indications of at least 20 more cases that need further verification. Captive bears are usually taken from the wild as cubs after their mother is poached and they are sold for relatively high sums of money. This means that for every