Miha Adamic, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, University of Ljubljana, Vecna pot 83, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Janez Zafran, Marko Berce, Slovenia Forest Service, Regional Unit Postojna, 6230 Postojna, Slovenia; Anton Marincic, Wildlife Reserve Sneznik, Kozarisce, 1386 Stari trg pri Lozu, Slovenia

Yearlong protection of the wolf in Slovenia was proposed in 1990, but not until 1993 the Government of Slovenia adopted the Act on the protection of endangered animal species, with the wolf included. In 1995 the wolf was protected also in neighbour Republic Croatia. Being aware that the ban of hunting will probably trigger the recovery of the then remnant wolf population, we started the yearlong monitoring of the wolf occurence in Wildlife Reserve Sneznik in southwestern Slovenia. Sample area with the surface of 278 sq.km. is the part of vast Dinaric mountains, extending from westcentral Slovenia to the south of Balkans. The Dinarics are among largest, contiguous large carnivore areas of Europe. The study area was divided into 306 permanent squares of 1x1 km, in which the signs of wolf presence have been recorded. Wildlife Reserve wardens and the staff of Slovenia Forest Service were involved in the monitoring. The distribution of main prey species (red deer, roe deer, wild boar) and also that of the brown bear and lynx were monitored simultaneously.

Wolf occurence in study period, expressed by yearly indexes of wolf presence (% share of the days with registered signs of wolf presence within yearly monitoring days in total) markedly increased (r =0,9701, n=8, p<0,001). The late is evident also by accelerated emigrations of the wolves out of the area.

Yearlong distribution of the wolf in the area was related to the density of red deer (r=0,5594, n=306, P< 0,001). The locations of feeding stations for brown bears also influenced the distribution (r=0,3133, n=306, P< 0,001). The road density varying from 0 to 4541 m /1 sq.km had no impact on the wolf distribution (r= -0,0511, n=306, p=0,373).

Red deer represent the main prey species of the wolf in the area. The population of red deer was under strict reduction since 1976 on, due to the supressing effects of browsing upon natural regeneration of beech-fir forests. Current density of red deer is smaller than was in the period of remnant wolf occurrence. State supported sheep pasturing in the foothills of Sneznik is in increase. The there sheep farmers launched anti-wolf protests after first registered cases of wolf predation. We believe that the predation on sheep will increase, if the reduction of red deer in the area is to continue. Sheep-owners will have to take it into account in time and take active participation in red deer management decisions.