Citation

Kikvidze Z, Tevzadze G. Ambio 2015; 44(5): 452-457.

Affiliation

4D Research Institute, Ilia State University, Room 310, Building E, 5 Cholokashvili Ave., 0162, Tbilisi, Georgia, zaal.kikvidze@iliauni.edu.ge.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Publisher Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s13280-014-0580-1

PMID

25413022

PMCID

PMC4510320

Abstract

Reports of the damage from wolf attacks have increased considerably over the last decade in Georgia (in the Caucasus). We interviewed locals about this problem in two focal regions: the Lanchkhuti area (in western Georgia) and Kazbegi District (in eastern Georgia) where livestock numbers had increased by an order of magnitude owing to dramatic shifts in the local economies over the last decade. This coincided with expanding habitats for wolves (abandoned plantations, for example). We found that the perceived damage from wolves was positively correlated with a poor knowledge of wolf habits and inappropriate livestock husbandry practices. Our results suggest a loss of traditional knowledge contributes strongly to the wolf-human conflicts in Georgia. Restoring traditional, simple but good practices--such as protecting herds using shepherd dogs and introducing bulls into the herds-can help one solve this problem.

Keywords: Animal Bites; Dog Bites

Language: en