brown bears of slovakia

BROWN BEARS
OF SLOVAKIA
(Ursus arctos)
Man, as you can see we have known each other for ages.
my bear cubs. Please, use only the paths for humans in
In my bear memory you are noted as a being whom
order not to disturb my bear life in the woods I love and
I mostly fear. If I can, I do stay out of your way. But take
I need so much. If we should happen to meet by chance,
into consideration that now you are entering my living-
do not give in to your primaeval fear but say hello to me.
room, bedchamber, my kitchen and the playground of
BEAR
Your friend the
Since 2008 the Tatras National
selected individuals – telemetry in
6 males and 5 females, which rep-
findings to be those from the hi-
Park administration has focused
2008 – 2013; DNA analysis from
resents around a 10 % share of in-
bernation season. We now under-
on activities intended to increase
2011; monitoring and management
formation of the spatiotemporal
stand that from the point of view
the level of knowledge of the brown
of problem bears; evaluating bear
activity of the bear population in
of spatiotemporal use by bears it
bear (Ursus arctos) within its area
shootings in the last decade (2002
the Tatras region. In general we can
is necessary to define this season
of jurisdiction. Together with part-
to 2012) and evaluating damage
state that the home range size of
with new expressions such as win-
ners from the Polish Tatras Nation-
caused by bears in the last five years
adult males is 200 to 400 or more
ter resting area, main den, tempo-
al Park (Tatrzański park narodowy),
(2008 to 2012).
km2 (20 to 40,000 ha) and in the
rary den and temporary shelter.
case of adult females 100 or more
A female bear that gives birth to
the Projekt Medveď company and
TANAP State Forests, our activities
During telemetry research by the
km2 (10,000 ha).
one or more cubs stays in the den
have focused on: determining abun-
TANAP administration and the
for around 200 days, an adult male
dance and sex structure – census in
Polish Tatras National Park (TPN)
Thanks to our use of
2012; movements and activity of
results we obtained from 11 bears,
we consider the most important
telemetry
around 100 days and other bears
approximately 150 days.
Tatra National Park is the oldest
vided into 2 basic units: the East-
vations in the MaB (Man and Bio-
national park in Slovakia and was
ern Tatras (High and Belianske
sphere) program in 1993. Tatra Na-
established in 1949. It is situated
Tatras) and the Western Tatras.
tional Park is also classified into the
in North Central Slovakia in the
The national park covers a total of
NATURA 2000 system. Park land
Tatra Mountains. The park is im-
73,800 ha and its buffer zone ac-
is used to fulfil its primary mission,
portant for protecting a diverse va-
counts for another 30,703 ha.
which is the conservation of excep-
riety of flora and fauna, with many
Tatra National Park is bounded by
tional natural treasures, and for
endemic species. Animal species in
Poland’s Tatra National Park to the
recreation, sports, education, ther-
the park include brown bear, wolf,
north with which it shares bilateral
apy and hiking usages. The national
lynx, marmot, chamois and 112 spe-
cross border protected areas. The
park is visited by nearly 3.5 million
cies of birds. It covers the highest
natural beauty of the Tatras and its
visitors on an annual basis with ap-
elevations of the Carpathian range
priceless value were the reason for
proximately 600 km of hiking trails.
and its highest peak, Gerlachovský
its inclusion by UNESCO decree
štít (2,655 MASL). The park is di-
into the network of biosphere reser-
TATRA NATIONAL PARK
Tel. / fax:
ADMINISTRATION
052 / 4484 217
Biosférická rezervácia Tatry
E-mail:
Tatranská Štrba 75
stanap@sopsr.sk
P.O.Box 21
Web:
059 41 Tatranská Štrba
www.spravatanap.sk