Preliminary Assessment of Damage Caused by the Wolf in Lithuania
2002; Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University; Volume: 12; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/13921657.2002.10512533
ISSN1648-6919
AutoresLinas Balčiauskas, Laima Balčiauskienė, Henrikas Volodka,
Tópico(s)Human-Animal Interaction Studies
ResumoAccording to the data of a questionnaire research carried out in 1999–2001, a preliminary assessment of damage caused by wolves in Lithuania is given. The most serious damage was recorded in Biržai, Kelmė, Joniškis, and Šiauliai districts. Depredation cases were most common in summer and autumn. Cattle, sheep, and dogs were attacked not only in pastures, but also in farmsteads and even villages, even if dogs were kept in yards. One fourth of the attacks was recorded further than 1 km from forests. As a rule, animals were not guarded in the day time and were left in pastures for the night. Usually they were uninsured, so losses were not compensated. According to livestock owners who had suffered losses, the damage should be compensated by the Ministry of Environment or the Ministry of Agriculture and hunters. According to a preliminary assessment, at present wolves annually kill about 400–1,200 animals in Lithuania; this is fewer than in the 1920s or mid-1950s, but more than in neighbouring Latvia. Owners who had incurred losses were more hostile to wolves. According to the EU requirements of wolf hunting regulation livestock insurance expenditures are likely to be fully or partially financed.
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