WPIU activity to support livestock protection in the project territory
The entire agricultural system in Europe is going through a complex period, characterised by new challenges and structural issues, including increasing competition, rising production costs, volatile markets, declining demand for sheep products, complex administrative procedures, a general decline in rural infrastructure services, general difficulties of agricultural work with high labour input for low earnings, and new challenges such as climate change, etc., as illustrated in various researches (Schuman Paper n. 739/2024; Linnell and Cretois, 2018).
In this already complex situation, the recovery of the wolf population in Italy (and in Central Western Europe) in recent decades is associated with both an economic and social price, sometimes locally high, that cannot be ignored, but which must necessarily be managed as best as possible, with the aim of minimising impacts at the expense of livestock practice, without undermining the long-term survival of the predator (ISPRA, 2022).
Sheep in Carmagnola (CN). Archive LWA EU.
As underlined int the report “EFFICACY OF PREVENTION SYSTEMS IN THE ALPS IN THE
FRAMEWORK OF THE LIFE PROJECTS”, damage occurs more frequently in areas of recent wolf recolonisation, where prevention measures or defence strategies against wolf attacks are unlikely to be in place, but there are localised situations in areas of historical recolonisation where damage remains frequent.
In general, there are several factors that contribute to the number of predation events, including the use or non-use of prevention strategies and the type of measures taken, the characteristics of the environment in which the animals graze (e.g. orography and weather conditions), and the presence of structures and infrastructure (e.g. sheds and roads). There are therefore areas that are difficult to manage and protect, where predation events are more likely to become chronic.
The experience of these years and of other projects (e.g. the Piedmont Wolf Project, LIFE DINALP BEAR and LIFE SloWolf) has shown that the presence of specialised technical personnel to assist breeders and shepherds in the use of prevention systems and in the timely intervention in the event of attacks is fundamental to support them in dealing with this additional difficulty in the livestock sector.
The data collected within the projects show that in most alpine pastures it is possible to adopt strategies to reduce the vulnerability of herds and flocks to wolf attacks. However, specific solutions must be defined on a case-by-case basis in the field together with the breeders and shepherds involved, taking into account the different types of alpine pastures, management objectives and other characteristics listed above.
As part of the LIFE WolfAlps EU project, a new ‘first aid’ approach was therefore created to facilitate direct and immediate contact with farmers in wolf areas. The WPIUs (Wolf Prevention Intervention Units) are formed by operators from public bodies with different backgrounds and qualifications, to effectively assist farmers in case of wolf attacks, prevent damage and evaluate the effectiveness of the prevention strategies adopted, improving them and proposing, in agreement with the farmers, ad hoc solutions. To date there are 43 WPIU along the Alps, of which 29 in Italy, 2 in France, 7 in Slovenia and 5 in Austria. In Italy, the teams operate in Liguria (n. 4), one in each province, in Piedmont (n. 16) and Lombardy (n. 5) operating in all provinces, in Valle d’Aosta (n. 3), and one in the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park.
The teams have more than doubled since the start of the project precisely in order to be able to follow the needs of farmers closely. Their greater spread across the territory and more widespread knowledge of their presence in the farming world has led to an increase in requests for intervention both in the field and remotely.
To date, WPIUs have carried out more than 1,500 interventions for preventive purposes, following a predation, or for an evaluation of the effectiveness of prevention measures, with varying frequency in the various territories in which they operate.
Focus on selected areas in 2023
In Piedmont, Italy, in 2023 and the first months of 2024, WPIUs intervened on more than 130 occasions mainly for preventive purposes (47%), and to a lesser extent following a predatory event (27.5%) and to assess the preventive measures put in place (25.5%). Prevention kits were handed out on loan free of charge, acoustic and fladry deterrent systems, guard dog warning signs, and drinking troughs were also installed for livestock in alpine pastures in both the Maritime Alps and the Cottian Alps.
Drinking trough located in an alpine pasture, Alpi Marittime. Photo: Archive APAM.
In the provinces of Cuneo and Turin there has been a slight increase in predation (100 animals more than in 2022 for a total of 1093 predated animals), a situation partly due to the new presence of wolves in hilly and lowland areas where prevention systems are not yet widely used, and partly to an increase in cases of predation on cattle that are still poorly protected. In addition, the new regional compensation system may have stimulated farmers to declare predator events that were not reported in the past, with a consequent increase in the number of reports. In the other provinces, on the other hand, the number of attacks remained unchanged or decreased.
Damage to livestock, in terms of predation events occurring, mainly concerns sheep and goats (82% of the total), and to a much lesser extent cattle (15%). Although still a very small percentage, a slight increase in predation events against cattle has been noted in recent years. However, as illustrated in a recent study we have discussed HERE, by developing ad hoc preventive strategies even on those less prone to predation, it is possible to further reduce the risk of wolf attacks. For example, since in Piedmont predation on cattle is concentrated on animals under 4 months of age, it is of strategic importance to adopt specific measures for the defence of calves, from keeping calving cows under cover to not leaving young animals isolated from adults and to scheduling deliveries in such a way as to reduce births and the presence of young animals in the mountain pasture.
As mentioned above, in order to develop effective protection systems it is important to take into account the different types of pastures, management objectives and other environmental characteristics. In the map below, it is possible to observe how the density of predation numbers is higher in some areas (Valle Chisone, Valle Pellice, Valle Grana) where the specific conditions of individual pastures make livestock securing operations complex. It is therefore of fundamental importance to support breeders, particularly in these hot spots, to propose effective solutions to reduce the risk of predation.
Map pf predation density in Piemonte in 2023. Source: ARVET, Regione Piemonte.
In the Valle d’Aosta region, the WPIUs intervened on 16 occasions, finding a reduction in the mistrust of farms towards protection systems and a greater propensity towards active livestock defence.
The teams carried out both preventive interventions and interventions following wolf attacks on farmers who had not implemented any protection measures. For example, in the municipality of Brusson, the technicians intervened to support two cattle breeders who had recently suffered a wolf attack. In one case, electrified fences were provided as the herd was without any protection, while in the other case, given the conformation of the pasture areas that are ill-suited to the use of protection nets, it was decided to purchase acoustic/lighting bollards.
Work also continued on the distribution of information signs on the presence of protection dogs on pastures (much appreciated), support for farmers in the use of these dogs, and the work of informing the population on how to behave in their presence. For example, the first few months of the year were dedicated to understanding the behaviour of a Maremmano Abruzzese sheepdog owned by a Courmayeur farmer, which showed aggression towards the shepherd dog. The farmer put into practice all the indications given to him and managed to solve the problem within four months.
The Maremmano Avruzzese sheepdog in Courmayeur. Photo: Archive Regione VDA/E. Bottinelli.
In the next article, we discuss the activities carried out in the Lombardy Region and in the Belluno Dolomites National Park.
