Lessons in managing wild ungulates in urbanized environments
Date
2016-09
Authors
van den Brink, D. Bob, author
International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Wild ungulates in the Netherlands were for many decades almost extinct and some species even temporarily absent. In some remote areas small populations of roe deer and wild boar did survive but numbers remained low. After World War II, due to a rapid urbanisation and the construction of a dense infrastructure, survival chances for ungulates only decreased. The realization of an ecological network and stricter protection laws led since 1990 to a sharp reversal for the wild ungulates. The numbers of red, fallow, roe deer and wild boar started to increase sharply. And this increase continues. There are more wild deer now in the Netherlands than there have been since centuries. The wild boar population is now expanding strongly towards new areas and it appears impossible to put a hold on this expansion. However, this increase in numbers yielded new problems for human safety and the economy. It led to an increase of collisions with traffic, agricultural damage and effects of over grazing. Especially fallow deer and wild boar show up more often in built-up areas and become a nuisance for residents. There has been a learning process how to manage ungulate populations to avoid conflicts with humans. A search for socially and economically acceptable measures to control populations, care for animal welfare and reducing risks for both humans and animals. There are a lot of cases with different solutions to be presented.
Description
Presented at the 9th international wildlife ranching symposium: wildlife - the key to prosperity for rural communities, held on 12-16 September 2016 at Hotel Safari & the Safari Court, Windhoek, Namibia.