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Beyond 2000:
Realities of Global Wolf Restoration
23-26 February 2000
Duluth, Minnesota USA
Wednesday, 23 February 2000, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Duluth, Minnesota Convention Center
French River Room
The year 2000 meeting of the IUCN/SSC Wolf Specialist Group (WSG)
was called to order by Chairman L. David Mech (USA) at 9:00 a.m.
on February 23, 2000. David R. Parsons recorded the minutes.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Anders Bjarvall, Sweden; Luigi Boitani, Italy; Ludwig Carbyn,
Canada; Gao Zhong Xin, P.R. China; Djuro Huber, Croatia; Ovidiu
Ionescu, Romania; Yadvendradev Jhala, India; Benoit Lequette, France;
Naoki Maruyama, Japan; L. David Mech, USA; Iyad Nader, Saudi Arabia;
Nikita Ovsyanikov, Russian Federation; David Parsons, USA; Francisco
Petrucci-Fonseca, Portugal; Sergei Pole, Kazakhstan; Christoph Promberger,
Germany; Erkki Pulliainen, Finland; John Theberge, Canada; Petter
Wabakken, Norway
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Boguslaw Bobek, Poland; U. Buyandelger, Mongolia; Julio Carrera,
Mexico; Javier Castroviejo, Spain; Gary Henry, USA; Heinrich Mendelssohn,
Israel; Robert Stephenson, USA; Pavel Hell, Slovakia;
AGENDA ITEM 1:
WSG representatives provided individual reports (linked) on the
population status, distribution, and legal protection status of
wolves, and current issues and ongoing wolf research/management
programs in their respective countries. Spain's
report by Juan Carlos Blanco.
AGENDA ITEM 2:
Luigi Boitani (Italy) reported on the recent approval of the Large
Carnivore Initiative - European Action Plans by the Bern Convention.
These plans establish non-binding recommendations for the management
of brown bear, lynx, iberian lynx, gray wolf, and wolverine populations.
All European governments are encouraged by the Bern Convention to
develop carnivore management plans consistent with the guidelines
established in the European Action Plans.
AGENDA ITEM 3:
Language of the Manifesto on Wolf Conservation was revised to
resolve conflicting wording. The last sentence of item 9. of the
manifesto was revised to read as follows: "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 semidomestic
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." Changed
language is indicated by italics. These changes were adopted by
a vote of 22 (for) to 2 (against) these language changes.
By addition of this change, the updated version of the Manifesto
including all the changes proposed at the previous WSG meeting (Saitama,
Japan November 19-20, 1996), was accepted by the WSG to be submitted
to IUCN for endorsement.
AGENDA ITEM 4:
The following resolution was presented for WSG consideration by
Benoit Lequette, (France): "When zoning or wolf control is used
as a tool for reducing wolf/livestock conflicts or to restore wolves
to former natural ranges, planning should always be at the scale
of the entire meta-population. If more than one country is concerned
with the management of one meta-population, planning should be a
concerted effort among all authorities." Benoit Lequette moved the
resolution be adopted and John Theberge seconded the motion. The
motion passed by unanimous approval of WSG members. The chairman
will issue a letter to proper authorities in France notifying them
of the passage of this resolution by the WSG.
AGENDA ITEM 5:
Mike Phillips, Executive Director of the Turner Endangered Species
Fund (USA ) presented two resolutions for WSG consideration concerning
the restoration of wolves to the Southern Rocky Mountain Ecosystem
(Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, USA) and conservation of the endangered
Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi). Phillips made a slide-illustrated
presentation in support of the resolutions.
The first resolution reads as follows: "The IUCN/SSC Wolf Specialist
Group endorses the reintroduction of Mexican wolves (Canis lupus
baileyi) to the Southern Rocky Mountains ecosystem pending a determination
through an Environmental Impact Statement that the area is suitable
for gray wolves." Chairman Mech moved that the resolution be adopted
and the motion was seconded by Ludwig Carbyn (Canada). During discussion
of the motion, David Parsons (Southwestern USA) offered a language
revision as follows: "and provided that additional scientific review
determines that Mexican wolves are the most appropriate source stock."
The revised motion, which now reads "The IUCN/SSC Wolf Specialist
Group endorses the reintroduction of Mexican wolves (Canis lupus
baileyi) to the Southern Rocky Mountains ecosystem pending a determination
through an Environmental Impact Statement that the area is suitable
for gray wolves and provided that additional scientific review determines
that Mexican wolves are the most appropriate source stock." passed
by unanimous consent of the WSG (1 abstention).
The second resolution reads as follows: "The IUCN/SSC Wolf Specialist
Group endorses the development of a Mexican wolf management facility
at the Vermejo Park Ranch in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado
(USA)." Chairman Mech moved that the resolution be adopted and the
motion was seconded by Luigi Boitani (Italy). The motion passed
by unanimous consent of the WSG.
AGENDA ITEM 6:
John Hart (USDA Wildlife Services) provided a presentation and
demonstration of a new foot snare device for capturing wolves. The
device is set like a conventional foot-hold trap, which when tripped
"throws" a cable loop snare onto the leg of the wolf. The trap-like
device then disengages leaving the wolf caught only by the snare.
This foot snare would be legal to use throughout Europe as well
as North America, Asia and the Mideast.
John Pisapio (Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of
Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario) described a technique for "calling"
wolves into the vicinity of set traps using the calls of prey (e.g.
moose) or by howling like a wolf. This technique has been used successfully
to trap wolves in the Algonquin Park area of Canada.
AGENDA ITEM 7:
Luigi Boitani (Italy) described proposed changes to the process
for maintaining the IUCN "Red List" of imperiled species. These
changes are expected to be adopted at the next meeting of the IUCN.
Under the revised procedure each IUCN/SSC specialist group will
appoint a single point of contact for submitting data to a central
coordinating service using new Species Information System geo-referenced
software. The specialist group contacts will be responsible for
addressing issues such as the sensitivity and ownership of the data.
An important improvement to the software will allow the input of
population data as a range (e.g. 300-500 wolves). This new system
should be in use by the end of 2000.
AGENDA ITEM 8:
The report on wolf recovery and delisting in the Midwestern U.S.
was deferred by Chairman Mech. This topic will be discussed on Friday
as part of the conference.
AGENDA ITEM 9:
The issue of minimizing wolf-human conflicts was addressed in
the revision to the language of the Manifesto on Wolf Conservation
(see AGENDA ITEM 3).
AGENDA ITEM 10:
Francisco Petrucci-Fonseca (Portugal) will pursue the possibility
of hosting the next meeting of the WSG in Portugal in the fall of
2001.
ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS:
Petter Wabakken (Norway) solicited advice from other WSG members
on ways to increase public acceptance of wolves in areas both with
and without wolves. Many suggestions were offered.
Issues relating to wolf-dog hybridization were discussed. This
included an assessment of the presence of "black" wolves in various
countries, which appear to be almost unknown in Europe and Asia,
except for Tibet. In areas where they are rare, black "wolves" should
be suspected to be of possible hybrids with dogs.
Kerry Murphy (Yellowstone National Park USA) reported on the suspected
(but not confirmed with certainty) breeding of 10-month old wolves
reintroduced to the park. Abundant prey and the general excellent
health of Yellowstone wolves lends credence to the possibility of
reproduction by young wolves there.
Chairman Mech asked each member of the WSG to provide a summary
of the status of wolves in their country. The report is to include
population status, distribution information, legal status and other
information of interest or importance. Luigi Boitani (Italy) will
circulate copies of a questionnaire to be filled out by all members
with data on their country/region. See the Wolf
Status Survey Results by Luigi Boitani.
Chairman Mech advised the WSG that all current memberships will
expire in March 2000. The Chairman will issue letters offering reappointments
or new appointments as appropriate.
Nikita Ovsyanikov (Russia) recommended that Vladimir Bologov be
appointed as a second representative for Russia. Chairman Mech will
take this recommendation under consideration.
Chairman Mech adjourned the meeting at 4:00 p.m.
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