Human-wolf coexistence in the Baltic

• Main Author: Balčiauskas, Linas
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2007
• Subjects: Wolf; Baltic countries; Human dimensions; Canis lupus
• Online Access: http://lmavb.lvb.lt/LMAVB:ELABAPDB5801939&prefLang=en_US

Together with Latvia and Estonia, Lithuania has a continuous wolf (Canis lupus) population, which number is after the peak in mid 90’s now less than 1000 individuals. Fragmentation of the Baltic wolf population may be a problem, because of a bottleneck in central Latvia. With EU accession in 2003 Baltic countries had to conform to the requirements of the Habitats Directive, but negotiated successfully for possibility not to establish protected territories for wolves and for regulation of population numbers. Different management frameworks (bag and quota) are used in the Baltic countries. Wolf damage to livestock is lessening along a north-south gradient. Estonia and Latvia experience minimal levels of depredation; wolf damage to livestock owners was found as main problem to species acceptance in Lithuania, raising problems with their protection. Compensation is not paid in all Baltic countries, and there is no state-based and unified damage survey. Some differences between countries were found in species acceptance, based/depending on (1) anxiety for the safety of family members, (2) rural-urban place of residence, (3) acceptable distances and proximity to large carnivores, (4) desired or acceptable population size, and (5) potential economic loss. In general, species conservation perspectives in the region are good.