Monitoring of large carnivores in the Beskydy: the animal numbers stagnating
25.4.2016, Friends of the Earth Czech Republic (local organization in Olomouc) and Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK CR)
The 32nd monitoring of lynx, wolves and bears, which took place in the Beskydy area this February, confirmed that in recent years the numbers of these rare animals have stagnated. It has been roughly estimated that the Moravian-Silesian Beskydy and Javorníky Mountains host at least 10 adult lynx, 5 sub-adults and 3 wolves; the latter having extensive territories which include, in addition to the Beskydy Protected Landscape Area, the Silesian Beskydy and the areas near borders with Slovakia and Poland. The occurrence of the bear was confirmed in the Javorníky Mountains - three recorded observations proved to be of the same individual [1].
"Over the last five years, the number of lynx in the Beskydy and Javorníky Mountains has been stable: there are about ten adult lynx but the fluctuation of animals is considerable. Camera traps showed us that only two of ten adult animals have been present here for longer than four years. At the same time, there are areas where, despite the habitat suitability, the lynx remain absent, which suggests that the potential for large carnivores in the Beskydy is not fully utilized," says Miroslav Kutal of Friends of the Earth Czech Republic (local organization in Olomouc) who coordinates the large carnivores monitoring.
"Large carnivores in the Beskydy are very vulnerable. We record sudden and permanent disappearances of regularly observed individuals from locations where previously they had been present; this indicates that even nowadays, the greatest threat to the lynx, wolves and bears represents poaching. Equally critical is the impact of road traffic, especially for inexperienced young animals. In 2015, two lynx cubs were killed on the roads in the Beskydy Protected Landscape Area, probably as a result of the loss of their mothers," explains Dana Bartošová of the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (regional office at the Beskydy PLA Administration).
Lynx called Král (King) is the longest monitored lynx in the Javorníky Mountains, photo from February 2016
About 80 professional and volunteer conservationists took part in this year’s large carnivores monitoring. It was organized by the regional office of Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic – Beskydy PLA Administration. The evaluation was based on field findings taking into account the long-term evidence and current information provided by Friends of the Earth Czech Republic utilizing the data from camera traps. Other rare and protected animals and birds were also recorded including European otter, hazel grouse, white-backed woodpecker, three-toed woodpecker, grey-headed woodpecker, black woodpecker, river kingfisher, Ural owl and northern raven.
The results of monitoring will be entered into the central database of Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic and they will be used as a base for nature conservation policies and decision-making. AOPK CR thanks all who participated in the monitoring – AOPK CR professionals, Beskydy PLA volunteer guards, “Wolf Patrols” and the Czech Union for Nature Conservation (ČSOP) volunteers, and Slovakian partners from the Kysuce PLA Administration.
Beskydy Protected Landscape Area is one of the key core areas with the presence of large mammals which are currently being identified in the Czech Republic as part of the project “Complex Approach to the Protection of Fauna of Terrestrial Ecosystems from Landscape Fragmentation in the Czech Republic (EEA-40)”. The habitats of specially protected species of large mammals will be mapped to promote and preserve landscape connectivity designating critical areas at which the protective measures could be effectively targeted.
Notes:
[1] Evaluation of the current status of large carnivores was based, in addition to the field findings, on the information resulting from the recently completed AOPK CR project “Monitoring of large carnivores in SCI Beskydy” and projects run by Friends of the Earth Czech Republic and the ČSOP member organization Salamandr.
[2] The four-day monitoring of large carnivores presence is organized annually by the regional office of Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK CR) – Beskydy PLA Administration – as part of the AOPK CR agenda. Its participants are mainly AOPK CR professional staff and PLA volunteer guards. In cooperation with AOPK CR, the members and volunteers of Friends of the Earth Czech Republic also take part in monitoring.
Friends of the Earth Czech Republic, independently of AOPK CR, carries out the monitoring of large carnivores as part of the projects “Monitoring of important European carnivore species in selected localities within the Natura 2000 network” and “Increasing public awareness for an active protection of biodiversity in the Czech Republic” supported by a grant from Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Norway. More information on www.monitoring.selmy.cz
[3] This winter, camera traps in the Beskydy and Javorníky mountain ranges recorded over 200 lynx visits. The selection of best images is available on request. The monitoring of large carnivores is organized within the framework of projects “Monitoring of important European carnivore species in selected localities within the Natura 2000 network” and “Increasing public awareness for an active protection of biodiversity in the Czech Republic” supported by a grant from Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Norway.
[4] More about the project here.
Contact:
Dana Bartošová, Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, Beskydy PLA Administration, e-mail: dana.bartosova@nature.cz
Miroslav Kutal, Friends of the Earth Czech Republic (local organization Olomouc), e-mail miroslav.kutal@hnutiduha.cz
Karolína Šůlová, Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, e-mail karolina.sulova@nature.cz
Translation from CZ press release: Martina Dušková
