-
BEAR REPORT 2007
General coordination and supervision Ruggero Giovannini
CoordinationClaudio Groff
Edited by: Davide DalpiazCarlo FrapportiClaudio GroffLorenzo
Valenti
With the collaboration of:Luciano AnesinRenato RizzoliPaolo
ZanghelliniAdamello Brenta Nature Park - Brown Bear Research and
Conservation Group
Layout and graphics: Marialuisa GrisoTomaso Marcolla
On the cover: Family of brown bears, Guido Castelli LOrso bruno
nella Venezia Tridentina, Trento 1935
Photos: Forests and Wildlife Department archives
Printed by: Centro Duplicazioni, Autonomous Province of Trento -
Trento, March 2008
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BEAR REPORT 2007
The bear was present at the infancy of our ancestors, has marked
the phases of their social
development and accompanied them through every valley
CONTENTS pag. Presentation Introduction 3 1. Monitoring 42.
Damage compensation and prevention 173. Management of emergencies
234. Communications 295. Training 356. National ad international
coordination 377. Research and conferences 39
F. Ambrosi, 1886. Lorso nel Trentino-cenni storici 1885-86
yearbook of the Societ degli Alpinisti Tri-dentini
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BEAR REPORT 2007
Presentation
Management of the brown bear in Trentino is carried out directly
by the Provincial Admi-nistration, in accordance with its statutory
jurisdiction and on the basis of the regulations in force regarding
the protection of wildlife (L.P. of 9 December 1991, no. 24). Since
2002, following the adoption of specific policy for intervention by
the Provincial Government, the Forests and Wildlife Department was
identified as the body responsible for the realisation of the
corresponding Action Programmes.The Departments main partner at
operational level is the Adamello Brenta Nature Park (ABNP), which
in the second half of the 1990s promoted the Life Ursus project,
according to which the permanent presence of the bear in our
mountains was ensured. The Park, which is a functional body of the
Province, collaborates in arrange of activities, in parti-cular in
the fields of research, monitoring and communications .The Ministry
for the Environment, Land and Sea and the National Wildlife
Institute (NWI) have an indispensable role in the realisation of
the project in institutional and technical-scientific terms, also
bearing in mind the national and international importance of
mana-gement of a species such as the bear.
It is intended to pursue two important objectives in drawing up
the first Bear Report of the Autonomous Province of Trento (APT), a
document with specific technical characte-ristics supervised by the
Wildlife Office of the Forest and Wildlife Department. First of all
to provide correct, up-to-date and detailed information on the
status of the small population of bears roaming around western
Trentino and the neighbouring States and regions. Secondly to
record a range of data illustrating the intervention implemented in
a precise and analytical manner, in order to make the use of such
data possible by those working in the field, through consultation
of a document which is as complete and exhau-stive as possible,
making the data easily accessible.The first aim falls specifically
within the information campaign Getting to know the brown bear,
started up by the Provincial Administration in 2002, and it is
hoped that from now on the Bear Report will represent one of the
most significant aspects of the campaign. The second aim is instead
more closely related to operational and management aspects.
However, both respond to the need to provide the technicians and
administrations con-cerned with better knowledge, in order to allow
them to make the right choices, designed to guarantee the success
of the project and thus the permanent presence of the bear in our
mountains.
Our thanks must go, in addition to the main partners mentioned
in the introduction, to all those who have collaborated in various
ways in order to realise the individual initiatives identified by
the Action programmes, the Natural History Museum of Trento (NHMT)
first of all, but in particular to the forest rangers, forestry,
park and game wardens and to the volunteers who have worked in the
area in order to realise the projects and gather the data without
which this Report could not have been produced.
dott. Maurizio Zanin Manager Forests and Wildlife Department,
Autonomous Province of Trento
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BEAR REPORT 2007
IntroductionThe brown bear has never disappeared from Trentino,
the only alpine area which can boast its continuous presence.
However, the protective measures put into effect starting from 1939
did not prevent the risk of extinction from emerging. Direct
persecution by man and, to a lesser extent, environmental
modifications taking place over the last two centuries have reduced
the original population to the threshold of extin-ction; probably
no more than three or four bears were present at the end of the
1990s, confined to the north-eastern Brenta area. However, just
when everything appeared to be lost the recovery began, following
the initiative of ABNP which, together with APT and NWI, started up
the Life Ursus project, which provided for the release of 10 bears
(3 males and 7 females) between 1999 and 2002, giving rise to the
population covered by this report. The release of the bears was
preceded by a detailed feasibility study, supervised by NWI, which
ascertained the environmental suitability of the area,
suf-ficiently large to play host to a flourishing population of
bears (40-60 animals), which is the final objective of the project.
This area goes well beyond the confines of the Province of Trento,
involving neighbouring regions and countries.Having terminated the
phase of releases, in 2002 the phase dealing with the standard
management of the bear population began, perhaps even more
demanding. For this purpose the Provincial Government laid down the
operational policy on which the management activities would be
based in resolutions nos. 1428 and 1988 of 26 June 2002 and 9
August 2002 respectively. In particular, six Action Programmes were
identified (Monitoring, Damage Manage-ment, Management of
Emergencies, Staff Training, Communications and National and
International Coordination). These also represent the basis of this
report.
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BEAR REPORT 2007
1. MonitoringMonitoring of bears has been carried out by the
Autonomous Province of Trento continuously for more than 30 years.
Over time the traditional naturalistic techniques adopted have been
supplemented with radio-telemetry (the first radio collars used in
Eurasia, in the second half of the 1970s), automatic video
monitoring from remote stations and lastly, in the last few years,
genetic monitoring.This last technique is based on the collec-tion
of organic samples, which takes place using two methods commonly
defined as systematic monitoring, based on the use of scent traps
aiming to capture hairs using barbed wire, and opportunistic
monitoring, which is based on the collection of samples found in
the area during service activities. Since 2006 systematic
monitoring of the area constantly visited by bears has been carried
out in alternate years and will thus take place again during 2008.
Bearing this in mind, the 2007 data are only partially
comparable with the 2006 data. Genetic monitoring has been
carried out for the sixth consecutive year with the coordination of
the Forests and Wildlife Department of APT and the collaboration of
NWI and ABNP.The information and data are available thanks to the
precious work carried out in the field by the staff, who have
collected the organic samples indispensable for monito-ring with
constancy and enthusiasm.
Genetic databaseThe overall number of organic samples col-lected
in 2007 was 340, of which 135 using the systematic method on scent
traps (the Park has indeed set up 17 trap sites in the area under
its jurisdiction) and 205 gathered occasionally.Genetic analysis
was carried out by the technicians of NWI. The trend for the number
of samples col-lected over the last six seasons can be seen below
(graph 1).
Graph 1 No. of DNA samples per methodology
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 TOT.Opport. 45 125 319 193 228 205
1115System. 4 227 464 154 255 135 1239
TOT. 49 352 783 347 483 340 2354No. Of Traps** 4 39 41 42 47
17*
** Traps in 4x4 km grid* Only ABNP area
No. of DNA samples per methodology
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Years
No.
of s
ampl
es
OpportunisticSystematicTotal
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BEAR REPORT 2007
Status of the population at the end of 2007Processing of the
data gathered has allowed presentation of the following information
regarding the population of brown bears roa-ming around Trentino
and the neighbouring regions in 2007.
Definitions recorded bears: bears whose presence has been
ascertained genetically or by unequi-vocal observations;disappeared
bears: bears for which no genetic evidence has been found for at
least the two last years;missing bears: certainly or most likely
not longer present within the population, as they have disappeared,
been found dead, killed or taken into captivity;cubs: bears aged
between 0 and 1;youngs: males between the age of 1 and 5 and
females between the age of 1 and 3;adults: males over the age of 5
and females over the age of 3.
Overall 24 animals were recorded during 2007 (23 traced
genetically, plus a further bear observed only; this was a cub born
during the year and not yet identified gene-tically; 13 were
females, 10 males and 1 not
yet determined - sex ratio F-M 1.3:1 (n=23)). Considering that
one bear (Jurka) was captu-red and retained in captivity, the
minimum number of bears present during 2007 was 23 animals (graph
2). In the belief that almost all the bears making up the
population were recorded in 2007, it is estimated that there are
23-25 bears present within the province and neighbouring regions
(province of Vero-na, province of Brescia, province of Sondrio,
province of Bolzano, Switzerland).
Graph 2Population structure (end 2007)
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BEAR REPORT 2007
The success obtained during 2007 using the opportunistic
monitoring technique is significant, despite the limited number of
samples gathered. Indeed, in total (also considering the few
samples gathered out-side the province, around twenty) no less than
21 bears were identified, of which 11 exclusively using this
technique, whereas with systematic monitoring, conducted however
only in the 17 cells situated in the area of the ABNP, 12 bears
were recorded, of which 2 exclusively (however one of these two was
Jurka, whose presence was constantly recorded thanks to the radio
collar - graph 3).
ReproductionIn 2007 there were two certain litters, with a total
of three cubs. The females DJ1 and DJ3 gave birth respectively to a
male and a female; one of the two mothers (probably DJ3) is also
the mother of a further cub (only observed). For both of them it
was their first litter at the age of only three (2nd and 3rd case
recorded in Trentino, after MJ2 in 2006). Genetic tests showed that
the father of both cubs was Gasper. There have therefore been at
least 13 litters recorded in Trentino in the last six years and at
least 27 cubs have been born (15 males, 11 females and 1 of
undetermined gender - graph 4). The average number of cubs per
litter is 2.08 (n=27) and the sex ratio is M-F 1.36:1 (2002-2007,
n=26).
The case of MJ2G1. Genetic monitoring carried out in 2007 showed
the presence of a further new bear. It is believed that this bear
(MJ2G1, male, cub of MJ2) may be the second cub of the female bear
in question, born in 2006. At the time only one was identified
genetically, MJ2J1, whose father is Joze, whereas the presence of
the second was only documented visually and supported by
Graph
Graph Recorded bears
Number of litters and cubs 2002 - 2007
Recorded bears
0
5
10
15
20
25
Opportunistic Systematic
(11)
(2)
( ) No. of bears recorded exclusively with such technique
21
12
No.
of l
itter
s an
d cu
bs
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7BEAR REPORT 2007
film sequences. If this is the case it would be case of multiple
paternity (Joze and Gasper, with one cub each), a phenomenon which
is possible according to the biology of the species. The processing
of the data as given below supports this hypothesis.It is worth
considering the reproductive animals: there are still only two
sexually mature males and there will probably not be any others for
at least the next two years, because the oldest males recorded this
year (excluding Joze and Gasper) are only three years old (MJ4 and
MJ5). Joze has reprodu-ced for five years, whereas Gasper only in
the last two. The first bear has reproduced with six different
females (for a total of 17 cubs), whereas the second six times with
six different females (for a total of 9 cubs). Daniza and MJ2 are
the only females to have mated with both males; Kirka, Jurka, Maja,
Brenta have only mated with Joze; KJ1, KJ2, DJ1 and DJ3 only with
Gasper. There have been ten reproductive females to date: the five
founders (Jurka, Daniza, Maja, Brenta, Kirka) and five bears born
in Tren-tino (KJ1, KJ2, MJ2, DJ1 and DJ3). Daniza, Jurka and Maja
are the only females to have reproduced twice, always in alternate
years (respectively six, five and five cubs in total).
Kirka (two cubs), Brenta (one cub), KJ1 (one cub), KJ2 (two
cubs), MJ2 (two cubs), DJ3 (two cubs) and DJ1 (one cub) have given
birth only once. Two of the ten reproducing females no longer seem
to be present (Kirka and Maja), a third has died (Brenta) and a
fourth has been taken into captivity (Jurka). However, as BJ1 has
reached the age of three this year she can potentially reproduce,
increasing the number of mature females currently present to seven.
As shown in the graph below (graph 5) five female bears will
potentially be able to reproduce in 2008, as the remaining two gave
birth in 2007 and would not normally be expected to give birth
again before 2009.
Graph Expected/actual reproduction
Expected/actual reproduction
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Years
No
. Of
po
ten
tial
/act
ual
mo
ther
s
Potential mothersActual mothers
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BEAR REPORT 2007
Missing bearsThe genetic monitoring has highlighted the lack of
any trace for any of the seven bears already missing during 2006.
Their absence has lasted for at least the two last years and they
are therefore considered as missing bears. A further bear was also
not recor-ded (MJ2J1, born in 2006). During 2007 no animals were
reported to have died or been killed.Considering that to date a
further five bears are missing (three found dead, one killed and
one taken into captivity) there are a total of 12 missing animals.
It is worth highlighting that 3 out of 9 foun-der animals (Joze,
Gasper and Daniza) and 21 bears out of 27 bears born in Trentino
(also calculating the only individual not recorded in 2007 alone)
would appear to be present at the end of 2007 (so in total at least
24 bears out of the potential 36). While considering
that some of the animals not recorded may nevertheless be
present, it is possible to estimate the percentage of missing bears
(died from natural causes, killed, disappea-red, taken into
captivity), which is around 33% of the theoretically possible
population (graph 6).Graph 7 shows the balance between
births/missing bears year by year. In 2007 for the first time there
was a negative balance (-2). This is explained by the fact that
despite a slight increase in the minimum number ascertained at the
end of the year as com-pared to 2006 (from 22 to 23 bears), for no
less than four bears (DJ2, JJ2, MJ3 and Maja) 2007 was the second
year in which no ge-netic traces of them were found and they were
therefore classified as missing. The total balance between
births/missing bears in the period 2002-2007 is +15; the 24 bears
present shown in graph 6 are the result of
Graph
Graph 7
Present/missing bears (2007)
Population balance
Present/missing bears (2007)
3
2124
6
6
12
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Founders (1999-2002) Born in Trentino (2002-2007) Total
MissingPresent
n=9
n=27
n=36
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BEAR REPORT 2007
adding the nine founders to these.Of the missing bears one can
note the pre-dominance of adults (six) as compared to younger
animals and even more in compa-rison to cubs (graph 8), in contrast
to what is normally recorded in the literature. In particular, four
of the six adults are disap-peared (Masun, Vida, Kirka and Maja),
one was found to have died of natural causes (Brenta) and one was
taken into captivity (Jurka). This figure is even more negative
because they are reproductive animals, although four of the six
founders (Kirka, Maja, Brenta and Jurka) in any case left their
descendents among the population before disappearing. What is more,
of the missing bears, the number of disappeared bears as compared
to dead animals (found dead and killed - graph 9) is
predominant.
Structure of the populationAs regards the structure of the
population (at least as regards the part ascertained), nine adults,
eleven youngs and three cubs were recorded at the end of 2007.
Graph 10 shows the trend for the 2002-2007 period.
Graph
Graph
Graph 10
Missing bears: causes (2002-2007 - n=12)
Missing bears - Age classes (n=12)
Age classes
Missing bears - Age classes (n=12)
Youngs (4)
Cubs (2)
Adults (6)
Missing bears: causes (2002-2007 - n=12)
Disappeared (7)
In captivity (1)
Dead (4)
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007Adults 9 8 9 9 9 9Youngs 0 2 1 5 3
11Cubs 2 1 5 4 10 3Total 11 11 15 18 22 23
0
5
10
15
20
25
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007Years
Age classes
AdultsYoungsCubs
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10
BEAR REPORT 2007
The trend for the small population remains positive despite the
losses recorded and the structure of the population shows a
predominance of cubs and young bears (14, representing 61% as
compared to the 9 adults, with 39%). As the numbers are still small
the population is still at risk; we are still at the stage in which
even casual individual episodes could compromise development. The
percentage of adult bears, young bears and cubs within the
population in the pe-riod 2002-2007 is shown in graph 11.
It is also interesting to note the evolution in the average age
of the bear population over the six years examined (graph 12); in
2007, for the first time since 2003, there was an in-crease in the
average age of the bears. On the one hand this is certainly due to
the small number of cubs born in 2007 (due to the low number of
reproducing females present in the 2007 season, as females are
known to give birth in alternate years), while on the other it
illustrates the excellent survival rate of the bears present in
2006, above all as regards the cubs born during the year.
Graph 11
Graph 12
Age classes (%)
Mean age of bears
Age classes (%)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Years
%
AdultsYoungsCubs
Mean age of bears
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Years
Mea
n a
ge
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11
BEAR REPORT 2007
Use of the area2007 was characterised, even more than in
previous years, by the dispersion of young bears moving towards the
north, west and south. The Val dAdige, situated to the east of the
area usually frequented by the bears, would instead seem to act as
an in-surmountable barrier. This marked phase of dispersion,
typical of young males, once again confirms the clearly alpine
nature of the small population of bears, extending well beyond
provincial boundaries.In particular, the presence of at least six
animals was recorded with certainty outside the boundaries of the
province, all young males aged two-three (figure 1): JJ3 and MJ4 in
Switzerland, MJ5 and DG2 in the
Val dUltimo (BZ), JJ5 in the Val Camonica (BS) and KJ2G2 on
Monte Baldo (VR). Five of these were also recorded genetically in
Trentino, mostly at the beginning of spring, before dispersion
began, whereas MJ4 was only recorded outside the province (in the
area of Bolzano and in the Engadina area of Switzerland in the
second half of the year). At the end of 2007 three of the bears
were relatively distant from the boundaries of the province (JJ3
and MJ4 still in Switzerland, KJ2G2 in the southern part of Monte
Baldo), whereas the other three were in closer areas (MJ5 and DG2
between the Val dUltimo and the Val di Non, JJ5 was recorded at the
end of November not far from Passo del Tonale).
Figure 1. Furthest locations from the core area of the bears
recorded outside the province
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12
BEAR REPORT 2007
Considering also the furthest transfers made by young males
during 2007, the population of bears in the central Alps, which
retains its centre in western Trentino, can currently be considered
to be distributed over an area of around 7,000 Km2, although the
area oc-cupied by the females in a stable manner is definitely
smaller (around 1,100 Km2) and situated within the province (figure
2). The areas occupied have been estimated using the minimum convex
polygon method applied to 100% of the locations available. This
also led to the inclusion of areas which are not suitable and/or
not actually used (e.g. Garda Lake).
Figure 2. Area occupied by the bears in the central Alps in
2007
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1
BEAR REPORT 2007
Figure 3 shows details of the area occupied by the females in
2007.
Figure . Details of the area occupied by the females in 2007
Area occupied by females in 2007
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1
BEAR REPORT 2007
Other activities linked to the 2007 moni-toring On 23 August
2006 Jurka was captured in order to carefully monitor her movements
and as a dissuasive measure for an animal considered to be
problematic. This radio-telemetry monitoring also continued in the
first six months of 2007, using both satellite and traditional
radio-telemetry. 1,194 loca-tions were recorded. Furthermore,
radio-
Figure . Home range of Jurka
telemetry monitoring of the female bear Daniza (1,386
locations), fitted with a radio collar on 2 July 2007, was carried
out. The 2007 home ranges (living spaces) of the two animals
extended respectively over 548 km and 143 km and are shown in
figures 4 and 5. Jurka was accompanied by three young bears just
over one year old, whereas Daniza was on her own. In the second
half of 2006 Jurka moved about over an even
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1
BEAR REPORT 2007
Figure . Home range of Daniza
more extended area, making her way into the province of Brescia,
accompanied by the three cubs of that year.
Monitoring of densIn Spring 2005 ABNP began investigation in the
field designed to identify, characterize and georeference the
largest possible num-
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1
BEAR REPORT 2007
ber of hibernation dens. In particular, the hollows discovered
during investigations in the field carried out starting from 1988
were examined.In the two-year period 2006/07 a new phase of
research was begun, aiming mainly to find the largest possible
number of new hibernation sites in the area between the Brenta
Dolomites and the Gazza-Paganella mountains and secondly to check
on known dens once again, in order to extend the exi-sting
database.In this context, 14 new dens were discove-red and 59 known
dens were checked on during 2007. At the same time, the research
provided for
Figure . Areas most likely to have hibernation sites
the surveying and monitoring of all hollows potentially usable
as dens, but never used by the species. The 72 potential caves
discovered in the area were characterized using the same parameters
in terms of size (height and width of the hollow and entran-ce
etc.) and environmental characteristics (exposure, slope,
surrounding vegetation etc.) used to describe known dens. This
allowed to determine which characteristics are significantly
different as regards the sites used and those not used and to draw
up an environmental evaluation model capable of identifying which
areas in western Trentino are most likely to have a site used by
bears for the hibernation period (figure 6).
Suitable areas
SIC
ABNP
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17
BEAR REPORT 2007
2. Damage compensation and prevention
APT can boast more than thirty years experience as regards
compensation and prevention of damage caused by brown bears.
Indeed, since 1976 100% of all dama-ge has been reimbursed and it
is possible to purchase prevention works (mostly electric fencing),
either with funding covering up to 90% of costs or through a system
of gratuitous loans. The relative regulations, covered by article
22 of provincial law no. 24/91, has been revised several times and
updated over the years, most recently with Provincial Government
resolution no. 2296 of 3 November 2006, also on the basis of the
directives imposed by the Provincial Government in the previously
mentioned resolution no. 1988 of 9 August 2002. The regulations
regarding works for the preven-tion of damage were instead last
updated with resolution no. 232 of 5 May 2006 of the manager of the
Forests and Wildlife Department.
Compensation for damage caused by bearsIn 2007 99 notifications
of damage were forwarded to the department and 84 clai-ms for
compensation were received. 15 notifications were not followed by
formal
presentation of claims for compensation (for 8 of these the
relative report certified that the damage had not been caused by
bears, whereas for the others the limited extent of the damage
discouraged those damaged from requesting compensation). All the 84
cases were processed (82 were accepted and 2 refused due to the
presence of prevention works funded by APT which had not been
correctly installed). Inspections were car-ried out to ascertain
the damage reported, followed up by specific reports ascertai-ning
the damage in 72% of cases. Overall 29,253.94 compensation was
paid. This figure demonstrates a fall in the number of cases of
damage and the relative com-pensation as compared to 2005 and 2006,
probably also as a result of taking Jurka into captivity on 29 June
2007, as in the last two years she had been responsible for around
50% of all the damage recorded.Graph 13 shows the trend for damage
re-corded over the years, whereas graphs 14, 15, 16 and 17 show the
chronological di-stribution of this damage in 2007 and in the
period 2002-2007, the number of incidents and the amounts paid. In
all the cases they refer to four types of damage: livestock,
beekeeping, agriculture and other.
Graph 1
Damage 1990-2007
Damages 1990 - 2007
-
5.000
10.000
15.000
20.000
25.000
30.000
35.000
40.000
45.000
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Years
Eu
ro
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
No
. of
dam
age
even
ts
Euro
No. of damage events
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1
BEAR REPORT 2007
Graph 1
Graph 1
Graph 1
Graph 17
No. of damages per typology (2007)
Amount of paid damages per typology (2007)
No. of damage events per typology (2002-2007)
Amount of paid damages per typology (2002 - 2007)
No. of damages per typology (2007)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
January February March April May June July August September
October November December
Months
No.
of d
amag
es Livestock
Beekeeping
Agriculture
Other
Amount of paid damages per typology (2007)
0
500
1.000
1.500
2.000
2.500
3.000
3.500
4.000
4.500
5.000
January February March April May June July August September
October November December
Months
Eur
o
Livestock
Beekeeping
Agriculture
Other
No. of damage events per typology (2002-2007)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Years
No.
of d
amag
e ev
ents
Livestock
Beekeeping
Agriculture
Other
Amount of paid damages per typology (2002 - 2007)
0
5.000
10.000
15.000
20.000
25.000
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Years
Eur
o
Livestock
Beekeeping
Agriculture
Other
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1
BEAR REPORT 2007
The geographical distribution of the damage events recorded can
be seen in figure 7.
Figure 7. Geographical distribution of damage caused by bears
recorded in 2007
Typology of damage events
LivestockAgriculture
BeekeepingOther
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20
BEAR REPORT 2007
Prevention of damage by bearsIn 2007 70 applications for funding
were presented for prevention works designed to protect assets from
damage by brown bears; 58 were processed for a total of 69 works
(39 designed to protect beekeeping and 30 to protect livestock),
for an overall expenditure of 15,648; almost all of these
took place through stipulation of gratuitous loans; finally, 8
applications are still unde-rway and 4 have been withdrawn. Below
it is possible to see the trend for prevention works over a number
of years (graph 18), the different types of work in the period
2002-2007 (graph 19) and the distribution of such works over the
different months in 2007,
Graph 1
Graph 20
Graph 1 Funded prevention works (1989 - 2007)
Funded prevention works per typology (2002 - 2007)
Funded prevention works per typology (2007)
Funded prevention works per typology (2002 - 2007)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Years
No.
of f
unde
d w
orks
LivestockBeekeepingAgriculture
Funded prevention works per typology (2007)
02468
101214161820
Janu
ary
Feb
ruar
y
Mar
ch
Apr
il
May
June
July
Aug
ust
Sep
tem
ber
Oct
ober
Nov
embe
r
Dec
embe
r
No
. of
wo
rks
Livestock BeekeepingTotal works
Funded prevention works (1989 - 2007)
-
5.000
10.000
15.000
20.000
25.000
30.000
35.000
40.000
45.000
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
Years
Euro
-
20
40
60
80
100
120
No.
of w
orks
EuroTotal No. of works
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21
BEAR REPORT 2007
referring to livestock and beekeeping (graph 20). The marked
reduction in the number of prevention works and the relative sums
in-vested in 2007 can also be attributed, at least in part, to the
radical reduction in tension
Figure . Geographical distribution of prevention works
in farms following the taking of Jurka into captivity and the
consequential reduction in the number of episodes of damage.The
geographical distribution of the works installed in 2007 can bee
seen in figure 8.
Prevention works (2007)
BeekeepingLivestock
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BEAR REPORT 2007
On 14 June 2007 a prefabricated structure was transported by
helicopter in order to allow a shepherd to remain close to a large
flock throughout the mountain grazing sea-son (at Valandro
mountain); on 3 October 2007 it was once again taken down to the
valley.
Trials of new techniquesAlongside the traditional forms of
preven-tion against damage, in 2007 the Forests and Wildlife
Department of the Province also tried out new forms of
intervention, already used successfully in other countries, in
agreement with the technicians of the National Wildlife Institute.
For the first time shepherds were supplied with air horns to try
out as tools for scaring away bears (Valandro mountain, August
2007).The use of dogs to protect flocks is a mea-sure which may
effectively limit the damage caused by the predatory activities of
wild animals. For this reason last summer (27 August - 1 September)
tests were carried
out with some dogs from the Swiss coor-dination centre for
livestock guard dogs. These are dogs used exclusively to defend
herds and flocks from predators, hence also from bears. There are
two main breeds used for this purpose, the Pyrenean mountain dog
and the Maremma sheepdog. Whereas sheep dogs recognise the shepherd
as their master, livestock protection dogs belong to the flock,
considering the animals as part of their own pack and territory and
defending them from any threats or dangers. The trials met with
limited success given the difficulty manifested by local shepherds
in adapting the methods of pasture to the presence of the new
dogs.For the first time a new electric fence (more powerful,
equivalent to 2.5 joules instead of 0.4) was tried out, with
relatively positive results and thus a further six fences were
purchased, which will be set up in the most sensitive areas
starting from 2008. The trials with this equipment allowed damage
to the enclosed flock to be avoided (Valandro, 23 August 22
September 2007).
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BEAR REPORT 2007
3. Management of emergencies
The law of 11 February 1992 no. 157 inclu-ded the brown bear
among the species gran-ted special protection (art. 2, paragraph
1).The D.P.R. of 8 September 1997 no. 357 (with the subsequent
amendments and ad-ditions of D.P.R. 120/03), implementing the
92/43/EEC directive regarding the conserva-tion of natural and
semi-natural habitats and wild flora and fauna, includes this
species in enclosure B (species of EEC interest, whose conservation
requires the designation of special areas of conservation) and D
(species of EEC interest which require strict protec-tion), thus
considering the brown bear as a priority species. The current
national legal framework for-bids the disturbing, capture and
killing of large predators (D.P.R. 357/97, art. 8). However, action
may be taken to control a problematic bear that finds itself in a
critical situation, in accordance with the provisions of national,
regional and provincial regula-tions (D.P.R. 357/97, art. 11,
paragraph 1; L. 157/92, art. 19, paragraph 2; L. 394/91, art. 11,
paragraph 4 and art. 22, paragraph 6). Indeed, in order to avoid
conflict with human activities and for reasons of public safety or
for other compelling reasons of relevant public interest, the
possibility of an exception to the ban on the capturing or killing
of animals is provided for, subject to the authorisation of the
Ministry for the En-vironment, Land and Sea, having consulted the
National Wildlife Insitute, on condition that there are no other
practicable solutions and that the departure from the rules does
not prejudice the satisfactory conservation of the populations of
the protected species (D.P.R. 357/97, art. 11 paragraph 1).
In the province of Trento the management of emergencies
represents a field of action in which it has only been necessary to
operate in the last few years, given the considerable development
of the bear population and
more specifically, as a result of the presence of a few animals
considered to be proble-matic.In July 2003 the Ministry for the
Environ-ment, Land and Sea authorised the Auto-nomous Province of
Trento, according to D.P.R. 357/97 and subsequent amendments, to
intervene as provided for in the special protocol for action in the
event of pro-blematic bears and intervention in critical
situations. This protocol provides the technical guide-lines on the
basis of which the Forests and Wildlife Department, which
represents the provincial organisation of reference, has
identified, trained and equipped the staff in charge of intervening
in these situations. Operational organisation in Trentino is ba-sed
on the use of staff from the provincial forestry service, to which
the Forests and Wildlife Department makes recourse, throu-gh the
setting up of a special unit which is on call.This has been working
since 2004 and is active each year from March 1 to November 30. It
has nine coordinators, who have the support of an emergency team
made up of two units, on call in turn, with a group of specially
chosen staff made up of 14 mem-bers. When necessary the team is
joined by a veterinary surgeon (in 2007 two vets were on call for
this purpose for the same period stated above).
Emergency teamThe emergency team intervened 33 times during
2007, in seven cases with direct intervention involving firing
rubber bullets at the animal (twice at Jurka, three times at Daniza
and twice at the female DJ3 - graph 21).In the other cases the
intervention was limited to guarding the area and providing
information to the population.
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BEAR REPORT 2007
The locations for intervention involving the emergency bear team
in 2007 are shown in figure 9.It should also be pointed out that on
29.10.07 there was one case involving a collision. This took place
near Ciago (Vezzano). It was not possible to genetically determine
the identity of the bear, as the sample (a single hair) was
insufficient.As regards this, in the last three seasons there have
been four road accidents, which have also involved DJ3, a female
born in 2004 (Preore 4.11.05), MJ2, a female born in 2003 (Fai
della Paganella, 28.06.06) and an unidentified bear (Caldes,
28.10.06). Both the young female bears involved in the first two
accidents were subsequently recorded (DJ3 even gave birth after the
accident), confir-ming that they survived the impact. The bear
involved in the accident at Caldes could not be identified due to
the poor quality of the samples gathered.
During 2007 other specific activities aiming to improve and
ensure greater efficacy for preventive intervention and the
management of possible emergencies were identified. In particular,
two technical documents were prepared, designed to provide
useful
indications on how best to intervene in the event of road
accidents involving bears (but which could also be extended to
other si-tuations in which a wounded bear is found) and as regards
the need to establish criteria as homogeneous as possible, on the
basis of which to decide when, and if necessary how, to use
dissuasive measures when faced with problematic bears.These are
documents for internal use designed to provide indications of an
operational na-ture to the staff involved in the management of
emergencies. Both documents have been included in the new ESOI
(Environmental Safety Operating Instructions) regarding the
management of bears. This has taken place with regard the
environmental certification system referred to in the UNI EN ISO
14001 certification obtained by the Forests and Wildlife Department
in 2000, subsequently renewed and last integrated in 2006.
CapturesThere were two captures: Jurka on June 28th 2007, to be
taken into captivity and Daniza on 2 July 2007 in order to fit a
radio-collar, making it easier to check up on the bear following
some specific incidents involving damage.
Graph 21 Interventi squadra emergenza 2002-2007
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Years
No
. of
inte
rven
tio
ns
(1)
(6)
(5)
(7)
In brackets the No. of direct interventions on bearsIn brackets
the No. of directinterventions on bears
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2
BEAR REPORT 2007
Figure . Locations of interventions of emergency team
Locations of interventions of emergency team
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2
BEAR REPORT 2007
Both captures took place using the free-ranging technique
(namely by shooting the animals with anaesthetic darts from a
cap-ture gun without previously immobilising them) but the sites
were also equipped and supplied with different methods of capture
(Aldrich snares, automatic snares with bait and tube traps). The
two captures required a total of seven days in order to prepare the
sites (four-five persons on average), a day of trials and four days
out with capture team (three-four people on average). The supplying
of the sites equipped with snares or tube traps (four sites)
required ten days work overall.Furthermore, as regards the
aforementio-ned activities to capture the bears, action was also
taken to prepare the reports re-garding the implementation of the
Crisis plan recapture of the bear called Jurka, in particular
linked to the relationship between the Province, the National
Wil-dlife Institute and the Ministry for the Environment, Land and
Sea and to the provision of the supplementary technical material
necessary in order to support the operating procedures of the brown
bear emergency team and the work of the capture team.
Implementation of safety measures and adjustments to the S.
Romedio enclo-sure and realisation of an enclosure at CastelerIn
Spring 2007 work was carried out to ensure the operational
efficiency and sa-fety of the bear enclosure at the sanctuary of
San Romedio in the municipality of Coredo. The enclosure was chosen
as a temporary site for receiving Jurka, who was taken into
captivity at the end of June. For this purpose it required work in
order to guarantee adequate standards both in terms of safety and
for the wellbeing of the animal. The work, carried out by the
Nature Conservation and Environmental Enhancement Department,
involved fixing the perimeter fencing in order to avoid at-
tempts to climb over it and the complete substitution of the
electrification neces-sary to control the bears. Furthermore some
work was carried out inside the dens, with the realisation of dual
access points in order to allow greater safety for workers, in
addition to adjustment of the internal flooring and complete
disinfec-tion of the areas. The work began in May and concluded in
June.In order to deal efficiently and promptly with emergencies
regarding individual brown bears, a new enclosure was also realised
by the Forests and Wildlife De-partment, capable of housing up to
three bears. The enclosure, situated at Caste-ler, on land
belonging to APT, south of Trento, stretches out over a surface
area of around 8,000 m2 and is equipped with appropriate security
systems.
Inside the enclosure there is a structure with three dens, each
of which has a sur-face area of around 10 m2. The purpose of this
structure is on the one hand to deal with the management of bears
defined as problematic and on the other to allow the treatment of
any injured bears (e.g. following collisions with vehicles) whi-ch
might require a period of controlled convalescence. The work began
in July and concluded at the end of November. Co-funding from the
Ministry for the
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27
BEAR REPORT 2007
Environment, Land and Sea has been provided for.
New trialsOn September the 2nd 2007 two Russian-European Laika
dogs were purchased (male and female 60 days old) and entrusted to
their handlers. The material necessary to maintain the dogs was
also purchased and the standard registration and vaccinations were
carried out. These dogs will be specifically trained to perform
aversive-conditioning on bears and will be used, when necessary, to
sup-port the emergency team. The handlers will deal with their
training following a specific programme; in the future it is
expected to acquire a further two dogs, which will be entrusted to
a further two handlers, bringing the number of animals capable of
operating at the same time to four.
A special training programme was prepared, on the basis of the
available literature, the experience of those supplying the dogs
and the information acquired during a specific visit to the French
Pyrenees.On August 23 for the first time a helicopter was used in
the province of Trento to inter-
vene at Valandro/Monte Pizzo in response to a female bear,
accompanied by two cubs, which was behaving with excessive
confi-dence in relation to a shepherd. This is a type of special
intervention desi-gned to guarantee safety in situations which
would make other methods of intervention impossible (total lack of
protected positions from which to intervene and the impossibi-lity
of reaching the area with service vehi-cles). However, it is not an
improvised form of action but rather one aspect of a series of
actions and initiatives designed to make coexistence between
sheep-farming and bears possible in the Trentino mountains. For
this purpose there is a special perma-nent authorisation with the
Helicopter Unit of the Autonomous Province of Trento and recourse
to this method may be made again in the future if special cases
such as the one in question should present themselves.
The case of JurkaFollowing behaviour considered dangerous for
man continuing over a period of several years, for the first time
in Trentino action was taken to capture a bear (an 11-year-old
female called Jurka) and retain her in capti-vity. The decision to
remove the animal was evaluated and considered at length and was
reached at the end of a lengthy and difficult process designed to
verify all the possible alternatives. Much was done in an attempt
to modify Jurkas behaviour, culminating in summer 2006 with her
capture and the fit-ting of a radio-collar. This allowed the
move-ments of the bear to be followed accurately and
aversive-conditioning action to be taken every time this should
appear appropriate and possible. Despite this, between 2005 and
2007 at least 84 critical situations were recorded which definitely
involved Jurka; on 36 occasions the presence of the animal was
recorded in a residential area and in at least two cases this
involved an attempt to enter buildings used by man (dwellings). In
the same period the emergency team intervened more than 80 times in
relation to critical situations involving Jurka and
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BEAR REPORT 2007
at least on eight occasions this involved aversive-conditioning
using rubber bullets. However the action taken did not result in
any modification to her behaviour.Thus, as a result of the
behaviour consi-dered dangerous for man manifested by Jurka
starting from 2005 and lastly in the spring of 2007, the President
of the Pro-vince of Trento requested authorisation for the capture
and permanent holding of the bear in captivity from the Ministry of
the Environment, Land and Sea, (on 03/04/2007). This took place in
accordance with the previously mentioned protocol for action in the
event of problematic bears. A positive opinion was expressed by NWI
on 13/04/2007. The authorisation from the Ministry was issued on
20/06/2007. The recapture took place on 28/06/2007 at 9 p.m. within
the municipality of Terres at the edge of the Val di Tovel. The
health tests carried out on site showed that the animal
was in good health and weighed around 130 kilograms. The bear
was transported to the enclosure of S. Romedio, in the
mu-nicipality of Coredo, where she spent the phases of reawakening
and acclimatisation in one of the dens. She remained there until
the end of the year, beginning the period of hibernation.
Throughout this period the bear enjoyed good health, as it was
possible to ascertain during a health check carried out at the time
of sterilisation (13 October 2007) and as demonstrated by the
relative veterinary certificates. The removal of Ju-rka and her
subsequent keeping in captivity thus represented a management
measure specifically provided for, albeit in excep-tional cases, by
the technical documents prepared by the Autonomous Province of
Trento (resolution of the provincial govern-ment no. 2463 of 29
October 2004) and ap-proved by the Ministry of the Environment and
by the National Wildlife Institute.
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BEAR REPORT 2007
4. Communications
Communications are considered by the Pro-vincial Administration
to be an aspect of fundamental importance in the management of
bears and represent one of the six Action Programmes referred to in
the previously men-tioned resolution of the provincial government
no. 1988 of 9 August 2002.Considering this, starting from 2003 a
specific information campaign was started up called Getting to know
the brown bear, which has involved and continues to involve
numerous initiatives. This report also has an informative role,
among other things, falling in every res-pect within those
initiatives designed to allow the wider public to better understand
this ani-mal, with the conviction that only knowledge can lead to
harmonious coexistence with the bear in the medium to long
term.With regard to communication activities, the Forests and
Wildlife Department has always been supported by the Adamello
Brenta Natu-re Park, which has been active in this field for many
years in its area of jurisdiction, and by the Natural History
Museum of Trento, which has offered educational activities on bears
for school children from the beginning.The main actions put into
effect during 2007 are summarised below.
Evening sessions and meetingsTwelve public evenings were
organised within the context of the information campaign Get-ting
to know the brown bear. The table below shows the locations and
dates on which they were held; a total of 512 people
participated.
Place Date No. of partecipantsNatural History Mu-seum of Trento
07 February 120
Caderzone* 10 April 30
Praso* 20 April 70
Tuenno* 24 April 50
Cunevo* 03 May 16
Monclassico* 04 May 25
Cavedago* 01 June 25
Giustino* 25 May 6
Fondo 21 August 105
Torbole 26 October 35
SAT Trento (in-structors course) 21 November 15
Daone* 07 December 15
TOTAL 512
(*) promoted by the Adamello Brenta Nature Park
Bears were also the protagonists in further evening sessions
organised by the Adamello Brenta Nature Park above all for
tourists: A history of men and bears and Bears, wolves and lynx:
the return of the large carnivores.
Title Number of repetitionsNo. of
participants
A history of men and bears 4 705
Bears, wolves and lynx: the return of the large car-nivores
4 195
TOTAL 8 900
Communication project for schools: Get-ting to know the brown
bear, in collabo-ration with the Natural History Museum of
TrentoFor the fourth consecutive year the NHMT continued to offer a
programme of tried and tested educational activities on the subject
of brown bears in Trentino. The activities are kept up-to-date
thanks to coordination with the Wildlife Office of APT, which
gua-rantees updated information and consultan-cy on the content.
The 2007-2008 edition of the guide to the educational activities of
the
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0
BEAR REPORT 2007
Museum also published all the educational initiatives realised
in collaboration with the Forests and Wildlife Department, as has
taken place since the 2003-2004 edition. This year the guide is
subdivided into three volumes dedicated to three different stages
in schooling (nursery schools, primary and middle schools,
secondary schools and over 14s). There are five types of activity
offered:- Hands-on museum a guided visit to the
mammals room, with particular emphasis for the large carnivores
and the bear, the opportunity to see and touch particular types of
materials (skulls, casts of foot-prints, hairs etc.);
- Laboratory, a 3 hour interactive activi-ty, partly informative
as regards the bear and other large carnivores (powerpoint, various
materials) and partly practical (simulation of radio-tracking,
realisation of plaster cast of footprints, recognition of mammal
hair through the use of educa-tional worksheets);
- Travelling Museum, an activity divided into three sessions,
two in the classroom and one (the middle one) involving a trip to
an area frequented by bears to look for any signs of their
presence;
- From the Museum to nature, a guided trip lasting a morning to
an area frequen-ted by bears to look for any signs of their
presence;
- Meeting the expert, a seminar taking a more detailed look at
the subject, in the form of a conference lasting 2.5 hours and
reserved for secondary school pupils.
The table below shows the number of par-ticipants involved in
activities dedicated to the brown bear in 2007, subdivided by the
type of activity.
Type of activity No. of participants
Laboratories 208
Travelling museum 174
Hands-on museum 159
Meeting the expert 26
TOTAL 567
The educational activities of the Adamello Brenta Nature ParkIn
the context of activities for schools, the education department of
ABNP has realised the following initiatives indicated below dealing
with the bear*.
Initiative No. of schoolsNo. of
classesNo. of pupils
Bear Project: the return of the bear to the Alps and coexistence
with man(educational project: 2 classroom sessions and 1 trip, to
the Bears Visitors Centre at Spormaggiore)
21 36 576
Large Carnivores Project (educational project: 2 classroom
sessions and 1 trip)
4 2 62
A day with the bears(day trip to the Bears Visi-tors Centre at
Spormag-giore)
14 42 828
TOTAL 39 80 1466
* Data referring to the 200/2007 school year
Furthermore, a school party from a secon-dary school in
Stuttgart interested in finding out more about the brown bear (28
October 2007) was also accompanied by the staff of the Wildlife
Office from APT. The pupils visited the Lord of the Woods Bears
Visitors Centre at Spormaggiore (Corte Franca ABNP), the wildlife
area of Spormaggiore and subsequen-tly went on an excursion through
the woods between Spormaggiore and Andalo.Within the context of the
Parks 2007 summer programme, two initiatives relating to bears were
realised: - Bear tracks: a trip lasting half a day taking
place in three different valleys in the park, with explanation
of the objectives of the project to conserve the bear and the main
techniques adopted by staff to understand the movements and habits
of the bears;
- A short walk with the bear: a brief excur-sion with a visit to
the Lord of the Woods Bears Visitors Centre at Spormaggiore.
In addition to these, between April and Octo-ber guided trips to
the Spormaggiore centre
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1
BEAR REPORT 2007
were organised following specific requests from associations,
organisations, etc.Details of participation are given below.
Initiative No. of events
No. of participants
Bear tracks (Val Brenta) 6 45
Bear tracks (S. Lorenzo in Banale) 8 75
Bear tracks (Val di Tovel) 13 64
A short walk with the bear 17 237
Guided trips of the Bears Visitors Centre 9 260
TOTAL 53 681
Press releases and press conferencesSeventeen press releases
concerning bears were issued (listed below) and one press
conference (regarding the capture of Jurka, 29 June 2007) was
organised.
No. 106 of 18 Jan. 2007BEARS: GENETIC MONITORING AND BALANCE
SHEET FOR 2006 ON RADIO AND TV WITH LA PROVINCIA INFORMA
No. 457 of 28 Feb. 2007The exhibition, on 17/18 March, was
organised by the Federazione Zootecnica dellAlto AdigeA CONFERENCE
ON THE BEAR AND ANIMAL HU-SBANDRY IN THE MOUNTAINS AT THE ALPINET
GHEEP EXHIBITION OF SHEEP AND GOATS IN BOLZANO
No. 695 of 22 March 2007TEACHING YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT BEARSA new
tool in the information campaign about bears is available thanks to
collaboration between the Autono-mous Province of Trento, WWF
Italia and the Adamello Brenta Nature Park.
No. 801 of 1 April 2007The many successes, not just scientific,
of the European Life Ursus projectJURKA: HER CAPTURE IS
ENVISAGED
N. 835 of 4 April 2007Letter from President Dellai anticipating
the moving of the animal to a suitable areaTHE REQUEST FOR
AUTHORISATION FROM THE
MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT TO REMOVE THE BEAR JURKA HAS BEEN
SENTRadio-collar for the cubs in accordance with the pro-visions of
the crisis plan
No. 1399 of 25 May 2007BROWN BEARS: THE SITUATION IN THE ALPS IS
AT THE CENTRE OF A MEETING BETWEEN EXPERTS TAKING PLACE IN
TRIESENBERG (LIE-CHTENSTEIN)The common position of the participants
at the meeting on brown bears in the Alps held in Liechtenstein
No. 1795 of 20 June 2007BROWN BEARS: THE MINISTRY OF THE
ENVIRON-MENT APPROVES THE PROVINCES REQUEST TO CAPTURE JURKA Her
cubs will be monitored using radio-collars
No. 1884 of 29 June 2007THE CAPTURE OF JURKA OVERNIGHT, PRESS
CONFERENCE AT 12
No. 1890 of 29 June 2007The operation was carried out by the
staff of the fore-stry service of the Autonomous Province of
TrentoTHE BEAR JURKA WAS CAPTURED YESTERDAY EVENING AT THE EDGE OF
THE TOVEL VALLEY A further and necessary step in one of the most
complex wildlife management projects ever realised in Europe
No. 1929 of 3 July 2007The operation took place yesterday
evening near San-tAntonio di MavignolaYOUNG BEAR CAPTURED FOR THE
PURPOSES OF MONITORING
No. 2019 of 11 July 2007JURKA: THE ANSWER OF PRESIDENT DELLAI TO
THE MANY E-MAILS FROM CITIZENS
No. 2251 of 1 Aug. 2007The initiative has been organised by the
Forests and Wildlife Department and follows the 2003 editionGETTING
TO KNOW THE BROWN BEAR, A NEW BROCHURE DESIGNED FOR TRENTINO
FARMERS AND BEEKEEPERS
No. 2315 of 14 Aug. 2007In close contact with the technicians of
the Forests and Wildlife Department of the ProvinceBROWN BEARS: A
YOUNG MALE CAPTURED IN SWITZERLAND, A RADIO-COLLAR WILL ALLOW HIS
MOVEMENTS TO BE FOLLOWED
No. 2445 of 31 Aug. 2007Support for the emergency team which has
been ope-
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2
BEAR REPORT 2007
rational for some time. Less damage in 2007 THE PROVINCE TRIES
OUT THE USE OF SPE-CIALLY TRAINED DOGS TO PREVENT DAMAGE BY BEARS
No risks for the bear and her cubs in the action taken in Brenta
with the helicopter
No. 2936 of 12 Oct. 2007A series of technical meetings in this
periodMANAGEMENT OF THE BROWN BEAR: GERMANY, AUSTRIA AND FRANCE
INTERESTED IN THE TRENTINO MODEL
No. 3574 of 7 Dec. 2007On 11 and 12 December 2007 a visit to
Trentino to meet the managers of the Forests and Wildlife
De-partmentA FRENCH DELEGATION VISITS TRENTINO TO EXCHANGE
EXPERIENCE ON MANAGEMENT OF THE BROWN BEAR They will also meet
Mayors, farmers, beekeepers and hunters
NO. 3664 of 17 Dec. 2007THE CASE OF JURKA IN PIAZZA DANTE:
PRE-SIDENT DELLAI RECEIVES ANIMAL PROTECTION ASSOCIATIONSThe new
eight thousand square metre enclosure is ready
Other informative activitiesEditing of a documentary on the
presence of the brown bear in the province of Trento has
terminated; revision of the text is underway. The film will last
around 45 minutes.Consultancy and information has been provided for
the following newspapers, magazines and television programmes:
Support for newspapers and national and foreign TV program-mes
supervised by APT
Argomento Testata/trasmissioneData/edizione
Bear manage-ment
Dolomitendaily newspaper
February and May 2007
Bear manage-ment orso
Monthly magazine Oasis May 2007
Bear manage-ment
NRC magazi-ne (main Dutch weekly magazi-ne)
June 2007
Bear manage-ment
VB nature (ma-gazine of the Pro-vince of Verona)
nos . 4 and 5 Summer and Autumn 2007
Bear manage-ment
ORF (Austrian na-tional TV) April 2007
Bear manage-ment
RAI 3 - Ambiente Italia August 2007
Bear manage-ment
RTTR - Il Trenti-no in diretta October 2007
Cani da orso RAI 3 December 2007
Gestione orsi pro-blematici Nuovo recinto del Caste-ler
RAI 3 Dicembre 2007
Articles published in 2007 by the Adamello Brenta Nature
Park
Title/subject Newspaper/magazineDate/edition
The s ta tus o f brown bears in the central Italian Alps
International Bear News
A u g u s t 2 0 0 7 -vol.16 no. 3
Bears Vivito - Alpencom May 2007
Bears Trentinoenvironment site May 2007
Bears dens SAT bulletin Year LXX, no. 1-2007
The Adame l lo Brenta Nature Park and reintro-duction of
bears
Cori in Val Ge-nova May 2007
B e a r s o n t h e shelf
Adamello Brenta Parco December 2007
Bears in the Alps Nat iona l Geo-graphic April 2007
Bears dens re-search by the park and advice for vi-sitors
Mondo sotterra-neo Potholing Newslet ter for Trentino Alto
Adi-ge
April 2007
Radio-television broadcasts which the Adamello Brenta Na-ture
Park has collaborated with
Subject Broadcaster/programme Date
JJ1 ZDF (German na-tional television) March 2007
Climate change: alpine wi ldl i fe, bears and gla-ciers
RAI1 Uno Mat-tina March 2007
Bears RTT May 2007
Bears (repeat) Rete4 Mela Verde July 2007
Bears TSI - TST July 2007
Bears Giornale Grigioni July 2007
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BEAR REPORT 2007
During 2007 the ABNP continued to produce the
bulletin/newsletter I Fogli dellOrso, publishing three issues: no.
14 (January), no. 15 (June) and no. 16 (November). As a result of
the considerable interest in bears aroused by events reported in
the news (the killing of JJ1, the capture of Jurka), requests for
inclusion in the special mailing list have continued: to date 780
people have registered.
Preparation of two cubs dead of natural causesThe taxidermist
Meinrad Forer in Gais (BZ) prepared the two bear cubs found dead
res-pectively in 2003 and 2006. The first was a male cub, MJ1, born
in winter 2002-2003 in the Valley of Sporeggio (Spormaggiore - TN).
The cub of Maja and Joze, he died in the valley of Sporeggio in
April 2003 and was found on 16 April, probably having fallen prey
to a golden eagle. The second cub was a female, DG1 born in winter
2005-2006 in the Giudicarie (Seo-Sclemo area). The cub of Daniza
and Gasper, she was found dead on 14 June 2006 in the Algone
Valley, probably following a fall.The two cubs were prepared in a
very na-tural pose showing them playing. The glass display case
with the cubs was put on show in the bears wildlife area at
Spormaggiore during the summer.
Informative material produced and di-stributedNew brochures
directed at farmers (2,500) and beekeepers (1,200) were produced,
as well as a booklet (42 pages) in collaboration with WWF Italia
and with ABNP, specifical-ly aimed at young people (10,000
copies).The following were distributed:6,520 brochures of a general
nature entitled In the land of the bear;24,150 booklets for young
people entitled A day with the bears (17,000 of which through the
magazine Poster natura) ;1,200 brochures specifically directed at
beekeepers;2,500 brochures specifically directed at
farmers;600 posters The bear: part of our hi-story.Furthermore,
a new informative brochure was realised by ABNP, of which 20,000
copies were printed, made up of a single large square folded sheet,
forming 16 boxes (front/rear). In addition to this, ABNP also
realised a new brochure on the Buildings in the Park, including a
section dedicated to the Lord of the Woods Bears Visitors Centre at
Spormaggiore (printing underway).
In 2007, the ABNP Visitors Centre Bears, the Lords of the Woods
in Spormaggiore (now called the House of the Bear) was visited by a
total of 2,952 people.
Web sitesThe site www.orso.provincia.tn.it was fur-ther updated
and all sections completed; monthly updating was also guaranteed.
It is currently structured with 124 pages and receives around
20,000 visitors a year. The site also contains the documents
mentioned in this report.Within the context of revision of the ABNP
web site (www.pnab.it), which has adopted a new graphic
presentation, the section dedicated to bears was revised
completely. The new content offered which ranges
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BEAR REPORT 2007
from the history of the events which have led to the freeing of
bears up to the activities currently carried out by the Park Brown
Bear Research and Conservation Group has been organised into 16
pages.
StandsThe two exhibition stands dedicated to the brown bear
available to the Adamello Brenta Nature Park (realised in previous
years respectively by ABNP and the Civic Museum in Rovereto with
the collaboration of ABNP) were used in 2007 as indicated
below.
A park for the bear stand
Exhib. site
Event/location Period Days
Daone Ice Master World Cup 19-25/01/07 6
Daone ABNP Visitors Centre 28/03-10/06/07 72
Trodena-BZ
Monte Corno Nature Park Visitors Centre
10/07-02/09/07 48
Bears in the Alps stand
Exhib. site.
Event/Location Period Days
Tuenno Quattro Ville in Fiore 28/04/2007 1
ExpoRiva, hunting, fishing and environ-mentDuring the fair (24
March 2007) a stand was set up regarding wildlife in the province
of Trento, with particular attention being paid to the bear (a
stuffed animal was placed close to the beehive defended by an
electric fence). On this occasion numerous brochu-res about bears
were distributed.
Questions and motionsThe following replies were given in
response to questions and motions regarding bears.
Questions
Date Description
27/04/2007 Response to question no. 2295 concerning bears (coun.
Boso)
18/05/2007Response to question no. 2336 regarding veterinary
consultancy assignments, also in relation to bears (coun. De
Eccher)
22/09/2007
Response to question no. 2606 regarding work assignments within
the context of ac-tivities for the management of bears (coun. De
Eccher)
26/09/2007Response to question no. 2672 concerning the use of
helicopters to manage bears (coun. Giovanazzi)
06/11/2007 Response to question no. 2832 regarding the bear
Jurka (coun. Bombarda)
Motions
Date Description
02/08/2007Response to motion no. 473 regarding the substitution
of JJ1 and Jurka (coun. Bom-barda)
15/11/2007 Response to motion no. 517 regarding the capture of
Jurka (coun. Bombarda)
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BEAR REPORT 2007
5. Training
The correct management of the bear is in-separably linked to the
availability of staff specially trained and prepared to deal with
problems of a technical and non-technical nature that may arise
during activities in the field, above all as regards the management
of emergencies, dealing with damage and, to a lesser extent,
monitoring. Training re-presents one of the six Action Programmes
referred to in the previously mentioned resolution of the
provincial government no. 1988 of 9 August 2002.APTs staff are
given specific training which is constantly updated. The training
op-portunities realised during 2007 are given below.
Main training initiatives for APT staffA training course was
organised for mem-bers of the capture team (two people) in Abruzzo,
to become familiar with and exchange ideas on activities for the
captu-ring of bears which have gone on for some time in the central
Apennines, with the coordination of the La Sapienza University in
Rome. The initiative, which took place on 23 and 24 April 2007,
allowed the partici-pants to acquire interesting information
and
to exchange opinions about the best tech-niques to be adopted
for preparing capture sites and manipulating of animals. Among
other things, they had the opportunity to participate directly in a
capture during the night between 23 and 24 April.Within the context
of the initiative de-signed to acquire a certain number of
Russian-European Laika bear dogs, for the purpose of monitoring and
perform aversive-conditioning on problematic bears, a two-day
training course was held for the handlers from the provincial
forestry service, on 28 and 29 April 2007. The short course saw one
day given over to theory and one day in the field and was conducted
by the breeders from Friuli, where the first two dogs were
subsequen-tly purchased. Four aspiring handlers participated along
with the staff of the Wildlife Office. Following the purchasing of
the first two dogs a special training pro-gramme was prepared based
on existing literature, with free consultancy guaran-teed by the
suppliers of the animals, and on the experience gained by staff
during a specific visit to the French Pyrenees and directly in the
field.
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BEAR REPORT 2007
From 20 to 25 August an Austrian researcher who is experimenting
with the use of a dog belonging to the Mnsterlnder breed as a form
of support for those operating in the field in finding traces and
organic samples from bears was welcomed as a guest to Tren-tino.
The opportunity for staff involved in bear management to accompany
her offered an interesting occasion for training and the
opportunity to gain knowledge of new techniques which could
theoretically also be applied in Trentino.On 7 and 8 May a course
on the use of GPS was held, which was also attended by staff from
the Wildlife Office and other departments involved in bear
management activities. The use of GPS may indeed also be positive
in these activities.On 20 and 21 February a training session was
held at Casteler for staff from the Pro-vinces of Brescia and
Bolzano involved in the management of bears. The initiative
involved a total of 22 people, representing staff from the
Wildlife Office carrying out ac-tivities related to bears. All this
falls within the context of activities requested from APT by
neighbouring administrations given the experience and knowledge
they have gained on the subject.The meeting on genetics at Casteler
(4 May) also represented a further training opportu-nity for the
bear management staff, as among other things research methods for
the col-lecting and conservation of organic samples were also
reconsidered and updated.Finally, within the context of activities
linked to the ISO 14001 certification obtai-ned by the Forests and
Wildlife Depart-ment, all the measures linked to activities for the
management of the brown bear po-pulation were brought together in a
single IOAS, setting out the document on the basis of the six
Action Programmes on which the activity itself is organised.
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BEAR REPORT 2007
6. National and international cooperation
Links with neighbouring Regions and States take on a strategic
importance in the ma-nagement of such a highly mobile species as
the brown bear. Bearing this in mind, right from the start of the
Life Ursus project official contact was made with neighbou-ring
regions, it being clear that the area of western Trentino was not
sufficiently large to house a viable population of bears. Over time
these relationships have strengthened and consolidated, with regard
both to the territorial expansion of the small population that has
effectively concerned neighbouring Regions and States and the
effective policy coordination implemented by the Provincial
Government with the previously mentioned resolution no. 1988 of 9
August 2002. Following this, the links transcending pro-vincial
boundaries were institutionalised and, with the input of the
Ministry of the Environment with the coordination of APT, the
Action Plan for the Conservation of the Brown Bear in the
Central-Eastern Alps (PACOBACE) was recently drawn up (sum-mer
2007); in addition to the Autonomous Province of Trento this also
involved the Au-tonomous Province of Bolzano, the Lombar-dia
Region, the Veneto Region and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region. In
particular, during 2007 APT also coordinated the latest and
definitive phase in the drawing up of the Plan of Action mentioned
(spring 2007) and dealt with the procedure (still underway) for
approval of the plan by all the partners (already concluded by the
Autonomous Province of Trento and the Autonomous Region of Friuli
Venezia Giulia).In the last two years transnational coordi-nation
has also received a further boost, on the one hand in the wake of
the effect of JJ1 and on the other following the movement of young
bears recorded in Switzerland, Ger-many and Austria in the last two
years.The drawing up, approval and signing of a protocol by APT,
the Ministry of the Envi-
ronment and NWI regarding collaboration in certain activities
for the management of the brown bear was also provided for. Among
other things, this provides for fun-ding from the Ministry in
favour of APT and NWI, to support specific activities.
The following meetings were held with colleagues from other
regions or countries.Liechtenstein 14-16 May. This was the third
transalpine coordination meeting for the management of problematic
bears; on that occasion APT was the only Italian representative and
it provided an updated picture of the state of the population and
the management activities underway.Visit of the French delegation
to Trento (WWF-FRA and local associations from the Pyrenees) on 11
and 12 May. The delegation, following contacts and agreements with
the Adamello Brenta Nature Park, had an official encounter with the
staff of APT and ABNP in order to understand the criteria for
management of the bear adopted in the province of Trento.A large
delegation of farmers, beekeepers and hunters, accompanied by the
techni-cians of the Bavarian Ministry of the Envi-ronment were
accompanied on one of two study days (12 and 13 October) designed
to illustrate the methods adopted in the pro-vince of Trento for
management of the local bear population, with particular attention
paid to damage prevention and compensa-tion. The Bavarian
delegation was joined by a small group of colleagues from the Tyrol
interested in the same issues.
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BEAR REPORT 2007
Two meetings and four days packed with activities (18 and 19
October, 11 and 12 December) were necessary to organise and manage
the request of a French delegation to visit Trentino. This was
headed by gover-nment representatives and made up farmers, Mayors,
hunters and other representatives of associations and communities
from the French Pyrenees. The scope of the visit was to compare the
situation in Trentino and the Pyrenees, particularly as regards the
preven-tion and compensation of damage caused by bears, in addition
to all the other activities for management of bears. Both occasions
involved considerable efforts both in terms of organisation and
realisation (numerous meetings involving ABNP, the Trentino hunters
association, Mayors, farmers and beekeepers). A meeting was held in
Masun (Slovenia) on 1 and 2 October designed to promote
international coordination for genetic mo-nitoring of bear
populations. The meeting allowed the coming together of
represen-tatives from bodies that have undertaken genetic
monitoring of bear populations (I, SLO, A, D, CH) in the alpine
area, allowing an initial agreement to be found in order to reach a
single criteria for analysis which will allow comparison of the
data acquired in the monitoring of bears.A meeting was held with
Swiss collea-gues and the ones from NWI in Bologna
(29 October), in order to take stock of the management of the
problematic bear JJ3, currently in Switzerland, and to compare
management strategies applicable to the case.Finally, from 08.05 al
12.05 a study trip was organised to visit colleagues working on
bears in the French Pyrenees. The specific scope of the trip was to
benefit from the experience of French colleagues in the use of bear
dogs (some of the most advanced in Europe). A delegation of
farmers, beekeepers and te-chnicians from the Autonomous Province
of Bolzano was accompanied to the Val di Non on 14 April for a
brief study trip designed to raise awareness of the methods adopted
in the province of Trento for damage preven-tion and
compensation.The presence of a bear on high ground on the slopes of
the Verona side of Monte Bal-do since last summer has led to
numerous meetings and exchanges of information with colleagues in
the province of Verona. A meeting providing updates and information
for colleagues from Veneto was also held in Verona (11 October).APT
also participated in public meetings held in Caprino Veronese and
Malcesine (9 November and 6 December), providing support with
images and first hand infor-mation about the Trentino experience of
managing bears.
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BEAR REPORT 2007
7. Research and conferences
ResearchBear disturbance study. Given the extensive presence of
man in the area covered by the ABNP and its role as a core area for
the bear, the park decided to carry out a specific study regarding
disturbance with the objective of increasing knowledge about the
possible effects of mans activities on the bear, also given the
limited knowledge on the subject. The study allowed the drawing up
of a do-cument which can be used to guide future decisions
regarding the conservation and management of the species and its
territory within the park. On this basis and given the limited
literature available, it was decided to base the survey on expert
and scientifically recognised opinions as regards the possible
impact caused by facilities and infrastruc-tures (ski systems,
forest roads, etc.) and activities of various kinds (logging,
off-slope skiing etc.) on bears. A special questionnaire was then
prepared and completed by eight experts recognised by the
International Association for Bear Research and Mana-gement (IBA).
The answers obtained were included within the compilation
document,
which is divided into six sections covering different
topics.Survey into man-bear encounters. For the purpose of further
investigation into encounters between men and bears, the ABNP
carried out a specific survey, using a questionnaire, completed by
all those throughout the province who have had a casual meeting
with a bear. This survey is a priority for gaining greater
knowledge about the ethology of the bear and in particular as
regards its behaviour when it comes into contact with man, with the
purpose of demonstrating its lack of aggressiveness, thanks to a
series of statistical samples of the reactions that the bear has as
regards man.In order to obtain these results a question-naire was
prepared, designed to obtain an adequate number of reports
regarding the reaction of bears in encounters with man and
vice-versa. By the end of 2007 it was possible to complete, through
direct in-terviews or on the telephone, around 130 questionnaires
with people who have en-countered a bear. In continuing the
project, the intention is to increase the number of contacts, above
all with the objective of obtaining a significantly large sample
for the various types of social categories coming into contact with
the species.
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BEAR REPORT 2007
Conferences
Papers presented by APT
Date Place Title of conference and organising body
Paper
9-10 March 2007 Assisi (PG) Conference: Large carnivo-res and
agriculture, exchan-ge of experiences
Paper: Compensation systems adopted in the province of Trento
for damage caused by bears and any other large carnivores
16-17 March 2007 Pescasseroli (AQ) Workshop: Count of females
with cubs
Paper: Count of females with cubs in the Central Alps: results
and integration with other monitoring techniques
17 March 2007 Bolzano Alpinet-Gheep Conference on sheep and goat
farming
Paper: The bear, other predators and animal husbandry in the
mountains: an exchange of experiences
4-10 November 2007
Monterrey (Messico)
18th International Conferen-ce on Research and Mana-gement of
Bear Populations (International Bear Associa-tion Conference)
Papers (with NWI): - Translocation as an engine of
conservation-Incorporating demographic and genetic data to project
genetic diversity, inbreeding and viability of a small translocated
brown bear population
Papers presented by ABNP
Date Place Title of conference and organising body
Contribution
29 May 2007 Bohinj (Slovenia) Wild Flower Festival
Paper: Brown bears and tourism: the example of the brown bear
conservation project in the Adamello Brenta Natural Park
19 July 2007 Roma Life+ Day (Ministero Am-biente)
Paper: Experience gained within the context of Life Natura. Life
Ursus the reintroduction of bears to the Alps
26 September 2007 Siena 5th European Congress of Mammalogy
(University of Siena, University of Rome La Sapienza, Societas
Europaea Mammalogica)
Poster: Definition and characterisation of brown bear (Ursus
arctos) dens in Trentino (Italy)
