DYNAMICS OF WOLF PREDATION ON LIVESTOCK IN CROATIA

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Dinamika napada vukova na stoku u Hrvatskoj
• Author: Irisz Koutis
• Mentor: Josip Kusak (mentor)
• Mentor: Krešimir Severin (mentor)
• Committee member: Alen Slavica (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Josip Kusak (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Krešimir Severin (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Magda Sindičić (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2023-03, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Veterinary Medicine; Basic and Preclinical Veterinary Sciences

Abstract

Damages caused by protected wild carnivores, such as the wolf, are compensated in
Croatia and therefore, collected data on the cases of wolf depredation could be used to analyze
a range of recorded parameters of attacks. The period of 2010-2020 was selected, as it had the
most complete dataset for the needed parameters. Seasonal changes in depredation were
analyzed, showing that the highest number of cases occurred in summer (n=5,531; 30.53%),
while the lowest number of attacks happened in winter (n=3,326; 18.36%). Diurnal analyses
of wolf attacks showed that wolves in Croatia are mostly attacking livestock during the day
(n=5518). It was found that wolves were the greatest cause of livestock depredation (n=15,137)
and their target species were most often sheep (n=10,457; 57.7%). Most wolf attacks occurred
on the pastures (n=16,334; 90.2%) with the average number of livestock killed or wounded per
attack being 0.8 individuals. The average number of livestock killed per county when
implementing protection measures as opposed to cases where prevention measures were not
implemented, was not significant. The number of livestock attacked, with and without
prevention measures implemented, based on species attacked was found not significant.
Comparing the availability of species of livestock with their representation in damage cases
between different regions, statistically significant differences were found. Statistically nonsignificant differences were only seen for donkeys when comparing North-South regions.

Abstract (croatian)

Štete uzrokovane zaštićenim divljim zvijerima, poput vuka, u Hrvatskoj se nadoknađuju
pa se prikupljeni podaci o slučajevima napada vuka mogu koristiti za analizu niza zabilježenih
parametara napada. Odabrano je razdoblje 2010-2020, jer je za to razdoblje postojao
najpotpuniji skup podataka za potrebne analize. Analizirane su sezonske promjene u predaciji,
pokazujući da je najveći broj slučajeva bio tijekom ljeta (n=5,531; 30.53%), a najmanji zimi
(n=3,326; 18.36%). Dnevne analize napada vukova pokazale su da su vukovi u stoku u
Hrvatskoj najčešće napadaju danju (n=5518). Utvrđeno je da su vukovi bili najveći uzročnici
šteta na stoci (n=15.137), a najčešće napadana vrsta stoke bila je ovca (n=10,457; 57.7%).
Većina napada vukova dogodila se na pašnjacima (n=16,334; 90.2%) s prosječnim brojem
ubijenih ili ranjenih grla od 0,8 jedinki po napadu. Analiziran je prosječan broj stradale stoke po županijama kada su se provodile mjere zaštite i kada nisu, te se pokazalo da razlika nije bila
značajna. Nije bilo značajne razlike u broju napadnute stoke s obzirom na primjenu
preventivnih mjera. Uspoređujući raspoloživost stoke s učestalošću šteta između različitih
regija utvrđene su statistički značajne razlike. Uspoređujući Sjevernu i Južnu regiju značajna
razlika nije utvrđena za magarce.

• Keywords: wolf; livestock; depredation; Croatia
• Keywords (croatian): vuk; stoka; predacija; Hrvatska
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:178:842459
• Study programme: Title: Veterinary Medicine; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: doktor/doktorica veterinarske medicine (doktor/doktorica veterinarske medicine)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2023-04-05 08:20:32