of authorities on
wolves, currently including members from Canada, China, Croatia,
the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazahkstan, Mexico, Mongolia, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the Slovak Republic,
Spain, Sweden, and the U.S. The group deals with wolf conservation
matters of international significance, especially situations involving
endangered populations. As such, the Wolf Specialist Group is
one of 100 specialist groups comprising the Species Survival Commission
(SSC). The SSC in turn is one of six commissions that carry out
the main activities of the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
The IUCN, founded in 1948, is the foremost
international conservation organization bringing together 78 states,
112 government agencies, 735 NGOs, 35 affiliates, and some 10,000
scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide
partnership. IUCN has approximately 1000 staff, most of whom are
located in its 42 regional and country offices while 100 work
at its Headquarters in Gland, Switzerland. Funding for IUCN comes
from membership fees, and many of its conservation activities
have been financed by the World Wildlife Fund. IUCN functions
primarily by setting conservation policies and ideals and urging
member governments to adhere to them.
This Manifesto comprising a Declaration
of Principles for Wolf Conservation and recommended Guidelines
for Wolf Conservation was adopted by the IUCN/SSC Wolf Specialist
Group at its meeting in Stockholm, Sweden on 5-7 September 1973,
and has been endorsed by the Survival Service Commission and the
Executive Board.
The Stockholm meeting
was attended by official delegates and observers from 12 countries
having important wolf populations. It was the first international
meeting on the conservation of the wolf.
Since then the Manifesto was revised by the Group
on January 31, 1983; November 20, 1996; and February 23, 2000.
1. Wolves, like all other wildlife, have a right
to exist in a wild state in viable populations. This right is
in no way related to their known value to mankind. Instead, it
derives from the right of all living creatures to coexist with
man as a part of natural ecosystems.
2. The wolf pack is a highly developed and unique
social organization. The wolf is one of the most adaptable and
important mammalian predators. It has one of the widest natural
geographical distributions of any mammal. It has been, and in
some areas still is, the most important predator of big-game animals
in the northern hemisphere. In this role, it has undoubtedly played
an important part in the evolution of such species and, in particular,
of those characteristics which have made many of them desirable
game animals.
3. It is recognized that wolf populations have
differentiated into entities that are genetically adapted to particular
environments. It is of first importance that these local populations
be maintained in viable populations in their natural environments
in a wild state. Maintenance of genetic identity of locally adapted
races is a responsibility of agencies which plan to reintroduce
wolves into the wild.
4. The response of man throughout most of recorded
history, as reflected by the actions of individuals and governments,
has been to try to exterminate the wolf, although some societies
held neutral or positive attitudes toward wolves. In more than
one-third of the countries where the wolf existed, man has either
succeeded, or is on the verge of succeeding with wolf extermination.
This is an unfortunate situation because the possibility now exists
for the development of management programs which would mitigate
serious problems, while at the same time permitting the wolf to
live in many areas of the world where its presence would be compatible.
5. This harsh judgment on the wolf has been based,
first, on fear of the wolf as a predator of man and second, on
hatred because of its predation on domestic and semidomestic animals
and on large wild animals. It is now evident that the wolf can
no longer be considered a serious threat to man. It is true, however,
that the wolf has been, and in some cases still is, a predator
of some importance on domestic and semidomestic animals and wildlife.
6. Conflict with man sometimes occurs from undue
economic competition or from imbalanced predator-prey ratios adversely
affecting prey species and/or the wolf itself. In such cases,
temporary reduction of wolf populations may become necessary especially
when it can contribute to maintaining positive or neutral attitudes
toward wolves, but reduction measures should be imposed under
strict scientific management. The methods must be selective, specific
to the problem, highly discriminatory, and have minimal adverse
side effects on the ecosystem. Alternative ecosystem management,
including alteration of human activities and attitudes and non-lethal
methods of wolf management, should be fully considered before
lethal wolf reduction is employed. The goal of wolf management
programs must be to restore and maintain a healthy balance in
all components of the ecosystem. Wolf reduction should never result
in the permanent extirpation of the species from any portion of
its natural range.
7. The effect of major alterations of the environment
through economic development may have serious consequences for
the survival of wolves and their prey species in areas where wolves
now exist. Recognition of the importance and status of wolves
should be taken into account by legislation and in planning for
the future of any region.
8. Scientific knowledge of the role of the wolf
in ecosystems has increased greatly, although it is inadequate
in many countries where the wolf still exists. Management should
be established only on a firm scientific basis, having regard
for international, national and regional situations. However,
existing knowledge is at least adequate to develop preliminary
programs to conserve and manage the wolf throughout its range.
9. The maintenance of wolves in some areas may
require that society at large bear the cost, e.g., by giving compensation
for the loss of domestic and semi domestic animals. Conversely,
there are areas having high agricultural value where it is not
desirable to maintain wolves without some form of control and
where their recovery would not be feasible.
10. In some areas there has been a marked change
in public attitudes towards the wolf. This change in attitudes
has influenced governments to revise and even to eliminate archaic
laws. It is recognized that education to establish a realistic
picture of the wolf and its role in nature is most essential to
wolf survival. Education programs, however, must be factual and
accurate.
11. Socioeconomic, ecological and political factors
must be considered and resolved prior to reintroduction of the
wolf into biologically suitable areas from which it has been extirpated.
Natural recovery, however, should be given priority according
to the IUCN Reintroduction Guidelines.
12. Wolf-dog hybridization is potentially detrimental
to wolf conservation and is therefore opposed because of its possible
negative effects.
A. Management
1. Where wolves are threatened locally, nationally
or internationally, full protection should be accorded to the
surviving population. (Such threatened status is signaled by inclusion
in the Red Data Book or by a declaration of the Government concerned.)
2. Each country should define areas suitable
for the existence of wolves and enact suitable legislation to
perpetuate existing wolf populations or to facilitate recovery.
These areas could include zones in which wolves would be given
full legal protection, e.g. as in national parks, reserves or
special conservation areas, and additionally zones within which
wolf populations would be regulated according to ecological principles
to minimize conflicts with other forms of land use. Another option
is to manage wolves without zoning but react according to certain
events or degrees of conflicts with livestock. Whenever wolves
and livestock are allowed to be in the same area, wolf regulation
should go together with livestock management plans.
3. Sound ecological conditions for wolves should
be restored in areas through the rebuilding of suitable habitats
and the re-introduction of large herbivores.
4. In specifically designated wolf conservation
areas, extensive economic development likely to be detrimental
to the wolf and its habitat should be excluded.
5. In wolf management programs, poisons, bounty
systems and sport hunting using mechanized vehicles should be
prohibited.
6. Consideration should be given to the payment
of compensation for damage caused by wolves, and for incentives
to prevent damage.
7. Jurisdictions in every country are encouraged
to require the registration of each wolf killed and to provide
an adequate number of specimens from those wolves for research.
B. Education Dynamic educational activities should
be promoted to obtain the support of all sectors of the population
through a better understanding of the values of wolves and the
significance of their rational management. Public information
should be coordinated and should be implemented with the help
of professionals. Specific tools and approaches should be designed
for different cultural and social settings.
C. Tourism Where appropriate, general public interest
in wolf conservation should be stimulated by promoting wolf-related
tourist activities.
D. Research Research on wolves should be intensified,
with particular reference to:
a. Surveys on status and distribution of wolf
populations;
b. Studies of feeding habits, including especially
interactions of wolves with game animals and livestock;
c. Investigations into social structure, population
dynamics, general behavior and ecology of wolves;
d. Taxonomic and genetic work, including studies
of possible hybridization with other canids;
e. Research into the methods of reintroduction
of wolves and/or their natural prey;
f. Studies into human attitudes about wolves and
on economic effects of wolves; and
g. Research into the adaptability of wolves to
human presence.
E. International Cooperation A program of international
cooperation should be planned to include:
a. Periodical official meetings of the countries
concerned for the joint planning of programs, study of legislation,
and exchanging of experiences;
b. A rapid exchange of publications and other
research information including new techniques and equipment;
c. Loaning or exchanging of personnel between
countries to help carry out research activities; and
d. Joint conservation programs in frontier areas
where wolves are endangered.
