Damages of Gray Wolf (Canis Lupus L.) During Ten Year Period in Bulgaria

ABSTRACT

For ten year period (1990–1998), were no evidences about wolf damages of domestic animals. According incomplete information from 1999 to 2009 wolfs killed domestic animals (1207 sheep's, 519 goats, 175 cows and calves, 123 horses and foals, 134 mules and donkeys and 110 dogs) and wild animals (62 red deers, 35 fallow deers, 183 roe deers, 85 wild boars, 31 mouflons and 9 wild goats). Based on this data looks that the wolf is serious pest for domestic and wild animals, but this is unavoidable, because it is predator. How much is its sanitary role in nature prey population in Bulgaria is unknown, because there are no investigations about age and physical condition of victims. On the other hand its damage on domestic animals is indisputability. It is necessary to make serious investigations on wolf ecology in Bulgaria and its interactions with local economy and society. The results from such investigations will supply the scientific data for compensation of owners of domestic animals, as the practice in other EU countries.

Keywords:

• Gray wolf
• Canis lupus
• damages
• domestic and wild animals
• Bulgaria