Bear intervention group meeting

In
Mašun, in bear core area in south Slovenia, we carried out an international
workshop for training of Bear intervention group (BIG) members in the project
area.

The first day of the educational training was carried out in the lecture room, where topics about large carnivore monitoring, conservation efforts, intervention methods and management approaches in Slovenia were presented to the participants from Slovenian, Croatian, Veneto, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia BIGs. We also discussed Protocol for Bear intervention groups, situations that BIG members confront during their work, and findings of bear telemetry studies.

In
the second day of the training, a veterinarian explained thoroughly the
procedure of narcotising and sedating live-captured individuals of large
carnivores for research and intervention purposes. She presented proper
treatment of individuals while narcotised, and proper handling and monitoring
of their state of well-being until the moment of release. Afterwards, a
practical demonstration of different methods of live-capturing of bears took
place: we presented to the participants free-ranging method, capturing with Aldrich
snares and use of Culvert trap.

We
find it most important that bear intervention group members are well informed
and prepared. Their role in intervening in case of emergency, when inhabitants
find themselves in a conflict situation with bears, is of crucial importance
for maintaining tolerance towards human-bear coexistence.