For this entry,
Linda Harris, European Product Executive here at The Adventure Company tells us about the project she is involved in Slovakia, which is helping to track the infamously reclusive Brown Bear.
Due to its solitary nature, no one really knows the exact habits, or numbers of the species in the world. The purpose of this project is to track the bears, and find out more about them.
You can get involved with this by taking part in our
Bear Tracking in the Tatras trip, which is part of the Hands On collection.
Brown BearsThe Brown Bear can be found in Europe, North America and Asia. There is a dense population in the Tatras, but actual numbers are very rough- it is estimated that between 400-1400 live in the forests. The bears are omnivorous, and are very reclusive, but the mothers with their cubs are very tactile.
They often dig dens for winter hibernation, often holing up in a hillside. Females often den whilst pregnant and give birth during the winter, usually it is to a pair of cubs. The bears then nurse from the mother up until spring, and stay by their mothers’ side for around two and a half years.
They are powerful creatures, but much of their diet consists of nuts, berries, fruit, leaves and roots. They do also eat rodents and deer in sparse months. They are big, but are very agile, with past speeds being clocked at 48km an hour. They are not as dangerous to humans as myths lead them to be, but we would advise humans to not approach mothers who are with their cubs- they are very protective!
The Project:The main purpose of this project is to develop and expand a greater awareness in Slovakia’s magnificent wildlife, especially its populations of bears and wolves. Unfortunately, these animals have always been seen as a danger to the community and a top target for sport hunting. We think that if people had a common understanding of the animal, and its behaviour, this wouldn’t be the case. We think they should be regarded as magnificent natural assets and therefore protected and celebrated.
We use collaring to gather the information we need. Recent advances in collaring techniques have vastly improved data collection for all mammals, especially those that may have been untouched before, such as those who live deep in forests.
The GPS collars we use allow animals to be monitored on an hourly basis wherever they roam. It also lets us know when they edge near human populated areas, and provides an extra safety barrier for them.
This equipment also needs less man-power to monitor, and provides higher quality data, leaving our guides more time to help the bears in other ways, such as setting up safe areas and helping any sick bears. It also means research budgets can be switched to helping people become more educated about the species, allowing myths that have been spread about the bear to be demolished.
We work alongside the High Tatras National Park, where we have chosen four bears to collar and will take a comprehensive look at their lives. We first collared the bears in June 2008, and since then have launched the Bear Tracking in the Tatras trip, which allows others to come along and play a vital part in our research. To do this, visitors are encouraged to get stuck in with the research by analysing tracks and printed findings, measuring tree scratching, and even analysing dung!
We also use the project to establish habits between bears and their community, and are in the midst of establishing bear tracks, and key drinking and feeding locations, which we can eventually help to protect.
Every year the number of Brown Bears dwindle because they are shot. Our long-term aim is to set up a sanctuary to prevent this from happening. We would love to have a bear research centre, youth education programmes and a way to observe the beers acting in their own environments.
The CageWe have also placed a cage within the park that helps us locate bears for collaring. We don’t keep the bears in the cages but we like to monitor the movements of animals around the cage with the door open, until a bear that is big enough stumbles across it. We have installed cameras near to the cage, which means we can monitor the bears closely before collaring them. It also means someone doesn’t have to hide out in the cold and observe them all night!
We put out a combination of apples and corn as bait, and this works well when the juicy berries in the forest aren’t distracting them! We also only capture bears in daylight, and once the animal has been comfortable in the surroundings around the cage. We also work closely with rangers, and always have a vet on hand when collaring.
MisoTo give you an idea of what visitors to the project can expect, here is a little information about one of the “regular” bears in the project, Miso:
Miso is a five year old brown bear, weighing in at 120kg, 70 cm high and 130cm nose to tail. He isn’t the largest bear that we have monitored, but he is our most regular visitor! He was our first bear to be collared, and makes a very interesting subject. Due to our monitoring we feel like we know Miso’c character, and since he is quite young, a great example because he hasn’t yet laid out his own territory yet, he is like an eager puppy!
It means we can see him pushing his levels, and watch eagerly to see how far he will roam to gather food. Because he is so young, we will be interested to see how he grows into being dominant, so we can pinpoint any changes that occur.
Bear Track with The Adventure Company!Help out with this important project as you explore stunning Slovakia. The
Bear Tracking in the Tatras trip allows you to track the bears in a beautiful national park where you are surrounded by mountains.
Stay at remote mountain cottages which are normally only used by rangers, and spot wolves and wildcats alongside bears. You can also explore the quaint Spis towns, some of which are 700 years old. You also get to spend the night in a castle and explore the polish city of Krakow – all in all a fantastic experience!
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