Funding the base of long term large carnivore conservation in Hungary (ID no: LIFE00/NAT/H/7162)

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1 Field monitoring Whereas the results of the questionnaire survey may be uncertain depending on the ratio of people replying, in order to supplement and verify these results, a more detailed examination is necessary. The large carnivore field monitoring system, based on standardized methods, consists of direct field surveys conducted several times during the year to assess the occurrence of wolf and lynx in the whole area of the Northern Mountains (project area). The examination is carried out by national park wardens acting in the same area where the game managers, but doing their job independently from them. The survey takes place by using standardized methods, along previously assigned transects. The data are processed by DoWBGM. So far there is no established method for the field monitoring of large carnivores in Hungary. These animals (especially the lynx) conduct a hidden way of life therefore leave only a few traces behind. Consequently the registration of their presence in a given habitat is difficult. The practical implementation of methods used in other countries often cannot be realized in Hungary due to the significantly uncertain, rare and more intermittent occurrence of the animals. Because of the intermittent occurrence of the animals examinations need to be repeated several times a year. (On the contrary, e.g. in Slovakia, examination is made only once a year, counting the traces in the winter). Because of the scarcity of the traces all possible information has to be collected, not only the footprints but also remains of preys, faeces, scrape traces, hairs have to be collected and analyzed. Due to the peripheral location of the Hungarian population in terms of distribution, in general a more regular, more detailed and more organized series of examination is necessary than in the areas more often visited by large carnivores. To conduct careful examination at every possible area of distribution would be very much time and work demanding. Also, it cannot be implemented without disturbing the potentially occurring large carnivores and other animals living there. To counterbalance this, the large carnivore monitoring network covers only the most typical distribution areas. Transects suitable for searching for the traces and signs of animals were chosen upon the results of preliminary examinations by reviewing them and correcting the mistakes. Earlier the exact place of the monitoring transects, the date of the examinations and the method for the examination were not fully clarified. Therefore, examinations in the different regions of the project area were carried out at significantly different intervals and in different depths. During the revision of the system the place of occurrence of the recent observations and other characteristics of the terrain (ecological corridors, distance from water, soil suitable to preserve traces, etc.) have been taken into account when transects were specified. Afterwards each expert participating in the monitoring was visited individually by the colleagues of the DoWBGM and the methods of implementing the examination were standardized. Survey dates have also been determined. The regular, synchronized examination takes place six times a year, in every January, February, April, July, October and December on the weekend closest to the 15th of the month. During the examination the participants have to fill in an original registry book form, to which there is always a map of the area attached. In the registry book the characteristics of the life sign found (footprint, remain of prey, faeces, scrape, hairs, etc.) and the conditions of the observation have to be registered and the location of the observation is indicated on the map. The registry book and other documentation, photo or sample are collected and analyzed continuously at the DoWBGM. This way the results of the assessments are always comparable and following the specifications can be repeated and verified at any time. By synchronizing the surveys it is

2 possible to avoid overestimation and to get a more realistic picture of the number of animals of the population. During these visits numerous transects were modified and some new were created, too. The first renewed monitoring survey started in October Since then couple of new experts joined the monitoring and some new transects were created. The length of transects in the monitoring system increased by 45 km. The DoWBGM tends to have as many transects as possible in the project area first of all at the "hot spots", unless it disturbs the animals. Actual transects of the monitoring system can be seen in map 1 (at the end of this text), the distribution of transects amongst the regions are summarized in Table 1.: Table 1: Transects of the large carnivore monitoring system Competent National Park Number of transects Length of transects (km) Börzsöny DINP Heves-Borsodi dombság BNP Mátra BNP Bükk BNP Tarnavidéki-dombság BNP Aggtelek ANP Uppony BNP Zemplén BNP Total: To make the monitoring as effective as it is possible, the DoWBGM decided to organize annual meetings for the participants of the monitoring. By these occasions participants have an opportunity to exchange their experiences in general, to summarize the results and to train the newcomers. According to the responses of the participants these meetings are very useful and would be welcomed in the future. In the surroundings of the site of the meeting participants had a chance to search for and find life signs of large carnivores among field conditions. Structure of the field monitoring system: Level 1: Regular standardized survey by trained experts Only experts who possess general field practice and good knowledge of a given area are able to find life signs left behind by animals conducting a hidden way of life. Therefore, to monitor large carnivores regularly, national park wardens working in the area of the Northern Mountains are employed in the project with the approval and support of the competent national parks (Danube-Ipoly National Park, Bükk National Park, Aggtelek National Park). During the survey wardens who previously participated in a special training search for the life signs (see above) left by large carnivores along transects specified on the basis of previous distribution data and the characteristics of the area. Results of the renewed, standardized monitoring system are shown in Table 2.

3 Table 2: Annual results of field monitoring October December 2002 number of number of observation (number of transects) circles lynx wolf Börzsöny (6) Heves-Borsodi dombság (4) Mátra (2) Bükk (5) 10-2 Tarnavidéki-dombság (3) Aggtelek (2) 4-3 Zemplén (3) Total: (whole year) number of number of observation (number of transects) circles lynx wolf Börzsöny (6) Heves-Borsodi dombság (4) Mátra (2) Bükk (8)* Tarnavidéki-dombság (3) Aggtelek (2) 8-6 Zemplén (3) 15-1 Total: *3 transects were created in December January February 2004 number of number of observation (number of transects) circles lynx wolf Börzsöny (6) Heves-Borsodi dombság (4) Mátra (2) Bükk (8) Tarnavidéki-dombság (3) Aggtelek (4) 8-1 Upponyi hg. (1) Zemplén (3) Total:

4 Results of the monitoring (see Map 2.) match more or less the results of other surveys. The main distribution area is the Northern-Mountain Range in Hungary. More exactly, Aggtelek, the Bükk and the Zemplén are the most visited regions by the wolf. The population size is low, but more or less stable. On the other hand, results of the lynx monitoring are rather distressing. In spite of the number of transects and perambulations were increased, the number of observations fell. There was not any observation of lynx by the monitoring survey. That may be due to some dynamical changes in the Slovakian population. According to other surveys it is possible that the presence of several wolves has a negative impact on lynxes. Our supplementary studies on scent communication between the two carnivore species resulted in that wolves show significant interest in lynx scents. Moreover, their reactions show the mixture of intra-specific and predatory behavior elements. It proves the hypothesis of negative impact. Otherwise, the survey has not yet been conducted long enough to say anything for sure. Moreover, the monitoring system still has some operational shortcomings therefore it might not be efficient enough. The latter can be stated with special regard to the results of the second level of the monitoring. Level 2: Other observations of trained experts or other specialists As both species are present only in a very little number at a large area, furthermore both conduct a really hidden way of life all possible information sources have to be used in order to realize the most thorough data collection. As wardens participating in the survey spend considerable time in the examined area, they can notice life signs of large carnivores even when they are doing other duties in the field than the monitoring. Such data can be really useful in detecting the presence of large carnivores in the area, even if they are occasional and the data are not the results of a regular, oriented examination. Same way, the forestry or game management experts, working in the examined area, can recognize the signs of large carnivores during their work and, by informing the specialists and conveying the information, can greatly contribute to the examination. Table 3: Large carnivores observed by experts lynx earlier* Börzsöny Cserhát Heves-Borsodi dombság Mátra Bükk Tarnavidéki-dombság Aggtelek Uppony Zemplén Total

5 Wolf earlier* Börzsöny Ipolytarnóc Heves-Borsodi dombság Mátra Bükk Tarnavidéki-dombság Aggtelek Uppony Zemplén Total: * earlier: period between 1990 and the beginning of the regular monitoring There are more observations at the second level (see Map 3) of the monitoring than at the first one. We managed to collect more than fifteen observations about each species. The success of data collection highly depends on the personal contact with field experts. Therefore, the DoWBGM puts a great emphasis on maintaining the existing connections and developing as many new one as it is possible. Notwithstanding the uncertainties in that kind of survey, lynx and wolf can said to be present in Hungary, though in a very low number. The number of large carnivores has likely further dropped in the last two years. Level 3: Information obtained from other sources, that is not or canot verified People on the examined area may always have a lucky chance to see or observe the protected animal or its traces. The collection of these cases may be useful even if the chance of mistake is high (e.g. a layman can easily mistake a feral dog with a wolf) and in most cases the verity of the observation cannot be checked. However, by collecting data for an overall database, the DoWBGM can discover some kind of connection between the data and thus can verify some of them. In 2004, within a month, there were three ambiguous pieces of information about lynx, reported by three different sources from places not too far from each other. Because of the correspondence we can trust that there was a real presence of lynx. Please find the map with all kinds of observation in 2004 attached (see Map 4. at the end of this text). In addition to this, we obviously try to explore and accurately verify all information (from any source) about occasional killing. To collect information we are looking for contact with amateur birdwatchers, groups of tourists and walkers. We try to verify the information from these sources in the field. Within the framework of the project there has been an opportunity for one of the specialists of the DoWBGM to move out to one of the most visited regions by large carnivores and conduct exclusively field survey. His presence in the region makes consultancy and quick access to the site possible whenever assistance is needed in the case of uncertainty.

6 Further tasks Funding the base of long term large carnivore conservation in Hungary The efficiency of the regular monitoring conducted by experts is still not high enough as it can be seen from the higher number of second level observations. The efficiency can be increased only by increasing the number of transects or the number of circles per year. However, both of these mean an extra disturbance to the animals. Considering the policy of the DoWBGM, the most important thing is to avoid the unnecessary disturbance of the examined animal. DoWBGM tried to find a supplementary monitoring method, which causes no additional disturbance. In a related university research of the DoWBGM that deals with hair analysis species can be identified even from a single hair by a simple microscope. Researchers got the idea last year to collect the nests of songbirds. These nests may well contain hairs of the target animals of the region as many songbird species insulate their nest partly by hair. First the efficiency of that method was tested to identify large carnivores in the Northern Mountains. Participants of the monitoring, as well as other volunteers were involved in the collection of nests. To be sure about the security of the nestling birds this part of the project was launched together with MME BirdLife Hungary (MME). The MME was very helpful. Local organizations helped to contact people through posters and brochures received from the DoWBGM that described the aims of the action and requested the help of volunteers. The action was also advertised on the Internet home page of MME ( It has been mentioned each time when the topic of the large carnivore project came up to the media. The volunteers are not paid but they can send the nests "cash on delivery" by mail. Nests collected after the nestling season (autumn and winter) have only been accepted. This method has numerous advantages. It does not disturb the examined animals at all. It does not disturb the birds either, as they build a new nest each year. Nevertheless, it is feasible to involve children and the general public into the project as volunteers. By that way it is easier to make connections with people and disseminate the results of the project in a wide scale. Moreover, a big amount of samples can be collected. The results of the analysis of the samples may provide important information also in other projects not only about large carnivores but any other protected mammals of the region. The method was tested in the autumn and winter of We were given more than fifty nests or hair samples partly by the monitoring participants, partly by volunteers, partly by the members of MME. 46 of that were already examined (the analysis of the rest is in progress). There were some hairs found in 29 of the analyzed nests. As the result of the analysis depends on the quality of the hair, in eight occasions it was impossible to identify the species; only the family could be identified. The rest 21 samples gave more precise information about the species. In two occasions it was the hair of wolf (both of them from the Aggtelek region) and in one case it was lynx (from the Börzsöny hills) with high probability. The other hair samples originated mainly from game species (roe deer, red deer, wild boar and one polecat). For details see Map 5 at the end of text. Concerning the advantages of the method the DoWBGM decided to continue the nest collection on a more regular and organized basis on a wide scale, involving as many people as possible. The analysis of the expected big amount of samples makes the improvement of personnel necessary.

7 Map 1 Transects of the large carnivore monitoring system Data background: official topografical map Scale: 1: Map of 2004.

8 Map 2 Large carnivore observation of the monitoring system level 1 Data background: official topografical map Scale: 1: Map of 2004

9 Map 3 Large carnivore observation of monitoring system level 2 Data background: official topografical map Scale: 1: Map of 2004

10 Map 4 Summary of large carnivore observation 2004 Data background: official topografical map Scale: 1: Map of 2004

11 Map 5 Collected nests and hair identifications Data background: official topografical map Scale: 1: Map of 2004