First aid after a wolf attack as a result of the international project WolfAlpsEU in cooperation between HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein and the Austrian Centre for Bear, Wolf, Lynx.

The events

On Monday, June 7, 2021, a predator emergency team was deployed for the first time. The previous weekend, a livestock attack had occurred in the area of ​​the Schafburg agricultural cooperative in Hundsdorf (municipality of Rauris, Salzburg).

The result: Due to the attack and the subsequent panic in the flock of sheep, approximately 60 animals were injured or are missing. The remaining animals (approximately 90) were moved to a safe pasture in the valley.

Alerting and deployment

The emergency team was alerted at 3 p.m. following on-site consultations betweenJohann Huber, representative of the St. Johann/Pg. District Chamber of Agriculture; Hubert Stock, the wolf officer for the state of Salzburg; and Klaus Pogadl, chairman of the Austrian Center for Bear, Wolf, and Lynx (ÖZ). The team, consisting of Reinhard Huber (team leader), Daniel Eingang (HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein), and two employees of the Enns-Paltental Machinery Ring, departed for the operational area at approximately 4 p.m.

That same evening, the enclosure where the remaining sheep had been brought was secured with a livestock protection fence. The necessary materials are part of the emergency team's equipment.

Due to the high number of missing animals, it was decided to continue the search the following day (Tuesday) using a drone equipped with a thermal imaging camera from the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein agricultural college. Reinhard Huber and Andreas Klingler (HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein) and an employee of the Enns-Paltental machinery ring participated. Ten live animals were spotted by the camera. Due to fog and the difficult terrain, the search was limited. The animals were very frightened, and only one could be captured; the rest fled into inaccessible areas.

Predator Emergency Team

The team's mission is to provide swift, unbureaucratic assistance to affected livestock owners and shepherds following a livestock attack, using the necessary expertise and equipment. Upon receiving an alert, the team must arrive at the scene as quickly as possible, assess the situation from a livestock protection perspective, prevent further attacks where possible, and relay information to neighboring grazing areas. Specific measures include erecting protective fences, rounding up stray animals, and assisting with a potential early herding. The team brings all necessary materials and specialized equipment.

The concept, establishment, and training of these emergency teams are taking place within the framework of the international project WolfAlpsEU, co-financed by the EU under the LIFE program. The HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein in Austria is involved in this project in cooperation with the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna.

The Austrian Center for Bear, Wolf, and Lynx, a supporter of the WolfAlpsEU project, is working with the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein on the long-term establishment of predator emergency teams in Austria and coordinates their deployment. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism (a member of the Austrian Center for Bear, Wolf, and Lynx) has provided financial support, meaning there are no costs for the farmers involved.

The collaboration

Austrian Centre for Bear, Wolf, Lynx

The Austrian Center for Bear, Wolf, and Lynx, as an association, makes a significant contribution to achieving the most conflict-free coexistence possible with large predators, taking into account the public interest as well as the interests of affected land users and the general population. In cooperation with the federal government, the states, and numerous interest groups, solutions and concrete courses of action are developed, refined, and their implementation supported throughout Austria.

Web: https://baer-wolf-luchs.at 

HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein

The Higher Federal Teaching and Research Institute for Agriculture Raumberg-Gumpenstein, located in Irdning-Donnersbachtal (Liezen district, Styria), is a department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism (BMLRT) and is the driving force for sustainable management in the agricultural, food and environmental sectors in research and development for rural areas.

Web: https://www.raumberg-gumpenstein.at

The LIFE project WolfAlpsEU

The LIFE WolfAlps EU project involves an international team of institutions working to reduce the impact of wolves on livestock farming, find a balance between hunting and the presence of large predators, counteract the illegal persecution of wolves, address wolf-human conflicts, and disseminate accurate information based on scientific data. Further information about the project can be found at http://www.lifewolfalps.eu/de/

Contact

Emergency team commanders:

Reinhard Huber - This email address is protected from spambots! You must enable JavaScript to view it.

Austrian Centre for Bear, Wolf, Lynx (Managing Director): Albin Blaschka - This email address is protected from spambots! You must enable JavaScript to view it.