Emilian Stoynov

Research into the Large Birds of Prey in FYR Macedonia

Griffon Vultures.

Town/Region	Country	Categories	Date
	Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of	Birds, Europe	14 Aug 2001

FYR Macedonia is home to a wide variety of large birds of prey, many of which are threatened on a European or global basis, such as the Griffon Vulture and the Imperial Eagle. This project aims to collect data and information about the current population status and trends of such birds and use this information to research possibilities for re-stocking and reintroduction of species whether critically endangered or already extinct for breeding purposes. Work will include research into the relationship between wolf predation of livestock and human poison attacks on wolves (which in turn affects the large birds of prey).

As well as producing much needed data for the Macedonian edition of the IUCN Red Data Book, and thereby providing information vital to those authorities involved in the establishing of protected areas, the team will produce posters and other literature to widen local knowledge about these endangered species. A further objective is to bring survey and analysis experience to an area where there is little current expertise.

Project Update: May 2002

The team achieved a detailed census of many species of birds of prey, and made some important discoveries, such as villages inhabited by hundreds of Lesser Kestrels.New data was collected on the Imperial Eagle, a world threatened species. Program VULTURA, an international attempt to restore the populations and to work for the conservation of five key birds of prey, was launched in Macedonia.This program is a cooperation between NGO's and other agencies in Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Croatia and Romania.

So much enthusiasm was generated by the team's efforts that a new nature conservation society has been created, Wild Flora and Fauna Fund-Macedonia. Emilian Stoynov and various Bulgarian colleagues have undertaken to support and assist the development of this new organisation.

2nd RSG Grant Awarded

Meeting shepherds.

In 2000 during the implementation of my first project financed by Whitley Award Foundation/ Rufford Small Grants, called "Studying the recent status of birds of prey in Macedonia" I found that well preserved population of vultures especially Griffon and Egyptian vultures still exist in Macedonia.

Furthermore Black Vultures and Bearded Vultures still occur as one of the last places in Europe.
With further support from the Rufford Small Grants at the end of 2001, my second project implemented some basic measures for conservation of the endangered species of birds of prey. In that time some very serious cases of poisoning occurred in Bulgarian-Macedonian border area, and in one case 11 Griffon Vultures and 2 Imperial Eagles were poisoned. Following the investigation my team found that the most common case of illegal poisoning is the planting of poison in carcasses which are intended for large carnivore mammals. Most frequently wolves kill sheep and goats. The States of Bulgaria and Macedonia are doing nothing to help the sheep owners on this issue, which is why they often set poison, even this is forbidden by the law.

It is difficult to control such poisoning, and a lot of species as Griffon Vulture, Bearded Vulture, Black Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Imperial Eagle, Golden Eagle, Bear, Wolf, Raven etc, are carrion eating species - thus they become the most frequent victims of poisoning. Our current project is a continuation of the team's previous work in Macedonia and aims to reduce the threat by developing a Compensatory program of “one for one” scheme exchange of sheep. That means that when there is killed sheep by wild predators the FWFF will return to the shepherd the lost sheep by replacing it with a live one from the compensatory herd established by the FWFF. The herd will be established in Bulgarian - Macedonian border area, and will be considered as innovation, that could be multiplied in other regions later too. The Bulgarian- Macedonian Border area has the biggest wolf density and the most victims of predator attacks are registered there as well as the poisoning incidents.

Booster Grant Awarded

A Booster grant has been awarded for this project.

Project Update: March 2006

Dogs provision to shepherds.

During 2005 FWFF directly compensated 48 farmers, and indirectly about 200 have received support from the program. 24 sheep, 7 goats and 31 guarding dogs were given as compensation. Thanks to FWFF the "HDI" Insurance Company has sell over 200 insurance policies for livestock with total number of 1341 animals and over 500 livestock owners insured. These facts will reduce the Man/ predator conflict and will reduce the eventual poison baits use. Taking of dead animals by FWFF team is also preventing the poisoning. Any time when the team receives a call for available depredated animals the carcasses are taken and transported to the feeding site of vultures. By this way 76 potential poison accidents were prevented.

Poster for the Compensation program has been printed in 2000 copies. Almost everyone livestock breeder in the SW Bulgaria has heart for the Program. All regional forestry and veterinary services are aware for the FWFF's Compensation program and
its goals.

Thanks to Rufford Small Grants FWFF bought and renovated two sheep shelters in lowlands and in the high mountainous areas. This is very important step to restoration of the Transhumance in the area.

Final Report

Read about the activities undertaken and findings of this project in the final report below.