Antidote campaign and reduction of threats of wolves and bears by human intervention based on poison

The target cross-border region of Bulgaria-Greece and former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is an important reservoir for biodiversity, and an essential habitat and refuge for many threatened scavenging species, such as brown bear (Ursus arctos), wolf (Canis lupus), Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos).

The inability of farmers to defend the livestock from predator attacks cause large number of livestock losses and make locals desperate and helpless. The local authorities are often incapable in giving adequate proposals to meet peoples’ need and wildlife conservation, and even worse, sometimes underrate the problem. This aggravates the locals in to use illegal methods of persecuting bears, wolves or jackals by poaching or setting up poison baits. The latter is widely used in the target region despite it being a strong offence against several acts (Biodiversity Conservation Act, Hunting Act and Bern Convention).

Project aims and objectives

• Increase locals tolerance to predators
• Reducing livestock damages caused by predators and thus reduction of Human/ Predator Conflict
• Reduced of illegal use of poisoned baits in natural environment for killing of wild predators
• Ensuring legal collection of samples when poisoning incident appear
• Involvement of state institutions in against poison activities
• Data base management