engleski

Comparison of spatial behaviour of translocated and non-translocated brown bears in Europe

In the framework of three brown bear conservation programs in European Union (LIFE projects), 16 adult and subadult brown bears were successively translocated from Slovenia and Croatia to Austria, France and Italy. Two females and 1 male were released in Austria between 1989-1993 and in France between 1996-1997 and 3 males and 7 females released in Italy between 1999-2002. During this period 34 males and 14 females were captured both in Slovenia and Croatia and radiotracked in the framework of monitoring studies of brown bear populations in these two countries. The aim of this study is twofold i) describe the spatial behavior of bears released in a new environment and compare it with non-translocated brown bears from source population ; ii) give critical biological data for managers planning future translocations. Analysis of spatial behaviour was done by calculating serial and annual home ranges, comparing home ranges between successive years and by calculating straight line distances between successive daily radio locations. On average translocated bears exhibited a higher mobility and a larger home range in the year of their translocation than non-translocated bears of the same age and sex class. For translocated bears the release point did not necessarily become a central point in the home range as several bears never revisited the area. Our results show the possible variation in the spatial behavior managers have to expect when translocating bears. Further analysis are needed to determine how much of this variation can be explained by differences in habitat distribution and quality, bear density or individual traits of translocated bears.

spatial behaviour; translocation; brown bear; Europe

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