NETWORK 2013 (ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHTED crispusngosibiu@gmail.com)
Summer Survey of Jackals’ Habitat in RAMSAR Units, SE Romania
Time: 17th to 21st of July
2013
Called by: Ovidiu Banea, Ecology Department of Crispus NGO
Sibiu Romania
RESULTS
I. Agenda Topics
1. To break (disclose)
SKUANature objectives
and schedule broader activities if available in Periprava area, Danube Delta.
Share tourism destinations and build future eco-trekking programs.
Pictures instead of bullets!
Photo: SKUA NATURE and ULTIMA FRONTIERA Touristic Complex Periprava
Near Periprava is located the
most beautiful and high standards hotel in Danube Delta, Ultima Frontiera. At
the beginning of 2013, Stefano an Italian GOJAGE send us the most beautiful
photos of jackals ever made in Romania. These photos of wildlife were made at
Periprava on the wildlife observatory installed by SKUA Nature ecotourism organization.
An Italian tourism entrepreneur was chosen by
Hotelul ULTIMA
FRONTIERA to optimize the wildlife tourism into the most remote area of the
Romanian Danube Delta, Periprava.
At the beginning, Crispus NGO
lodged a complaint to the same SKUA Nature due to the apparent inadequate
wildlife stimulation and human intrusism into ecological network of jackals. If
we analyze all our reports since 2008 together with
Giannatos
WWF report in Greece,
Lapini
updated review to 2011 or
Szabo-Heltai-Lanszki
work to Jackal versus livestock we can easy find that jackals are human
dependent and that this mammal changes easy its behavior to fight for eat. In
the case of wildlife observatory we cannot talk of predation but yes we can see
valuable scene of competition between different top level predators or
scavengers as the White-tailed Eagle,
Haliaeetus albicilla, jackals
Canis
aureus or
Corvidae.
On 19
th of July 2013
we visited the 800ha where the Hotel ULTIMA FRONTIERA is placed and the
administration of the Hotel had the amiability to take us through the farm with
wild free avifauna and fish ponds.
We must CONGRATULATE SKUA NATURE
and Hotel ULTIMA FRONTIERA for their initiative! We found a nature friendly observatory
hidden with ground and trees. As we know this is the first activity which shows
appreciations and respect to the species and it will benefit by our experience
to improve the estimate of jackal sightings to the scene. The sighting is
organized with an irregular interval, 3-4 times per year and the jackal or
other raptor birds’ biology is not modified to be dependent of this
observatory. Another wildlife restaurant was built in NE Turkey in 2009 to
promote the conservation of 4 vulture species in the area (see
here).
It is well known that mortality within vultures comes after they feed on cattle
carcasses of poisoned or drugged animals (e.g. Diclofenac in India, see
reference before). Beside conservation of those populations of vultures in NE
Turkey by promoting “clean” meat these restaurants are promoted to a nature
friendly tourism with the aim of increasing local incomes. Other restaurants of
those type were used in South Africa, Mexico, Bulgaria, etc. (as reported by Kuzey
Doga Society).
ULTIMA FRONTIERA is a sustainable
bird watching project between the tour entrepreneur and environment educational
Society SKUA Nature and local Touristic Complex “Hotel Ultima Frontiera” Periprava.
Beside vultures the initiators
have found the jackal opportunistic behavior which in this case is forced to
competition. The pictures are used and
the economy is increasing at local level. An extensive program of nature trekking
it is proposed for Letea Forest in nearby and Sulimanca channel to Merhei and
Rosca Buhaiova lagoon complex where is sited one of the most important colonies
of Dalmatian Pelicans Pelecanus crispus.
2. To analyze common objectives
with Comana Natural Park Reserve Administration for a future broader project
regarding golden jackal species in relation with biological diversity and human
activities.
In Bucharest on 17
th
of July 2013 Petre Gargarea, Environmental Protection Inspector of RNP Romsilva,
Valentin Grigore, Director of Comana Natural Parc Administration and Ovidiu
Banea, Environmental Ecologist from Ecology Department of Crispus NGO Sibiu
discussed the Ecology Project of Jackal Specific Ecological Systems which will
be proposed by ROMSILVA, APNC and CRISPUS.
Ovidiu Banea, Petre Gargarea and Valentin Grigore after the meeting
The meeting last 2,5 hours and
was held in the new building of RNP
Romsilva. The participants concluded that an urgent priority has to be given to
those ecological systems specific to jackal species, and surely with a focus to
continuous monitoring of the species, ecological network analysis using stomach
content and video trapping techniques. The aim of the project will be the
establishment of the action plan of integrative and sustainable management of
ecological systems specific to jackals in Comana Natural Park.
Eng Valentin Grigore at the control office
4 camera are recording Comana's sites. Recordings are available for 30 days (recorded before). Comana Natural Park Reserve is prepared to host an international Colloquium regarding jackal ecology studies
Meeting Hall in Natural Park Reserve Comana, Giurgiu County
Celtic Village on the lake, a movie was recorded here dozens of years ago
Biologist Ilya Acosta Pankov, Yoluka NGO, member of Prof Nikolai Spassov Team, NHM Sofia
Fantana cu Nuc, Forest House
The observations were made in
Comana during the evening and the night. I stayed at “Fantana cu Nuc” House hosted
by APNC where Mrs. Florica takes care of the domestic animals and the beautiful house.
We talk about the new form of organization of the area after the area was
declared Natural Park in 2004.
Comana Lake on Neajlov River (deltaic landscape)
Resting at Mihai Bravu locality
Photo-trapping under the 1st bridge (South) over the Neajlov River in Uzunu,
the lonely place supposed as being natural corridor to Comana Nature Reserve (West part)
People come here from Bucharest and abroad
asking where is the park and do not understand very well which is the meaning
of this nature reserve. It is true that in the region another Park is opened to
the public, an Adventure Park. Both, Natural Park of 24.963Ha and Adventure
Park benefit of the other to promote their names.
I started to look out of Comana
Lake (or Neajlov River Delta, name given only by the similarities of landscape
with Danube Delta, not due to the specific form known of delta). I used the
bike from the Administration of the Park and during the following 5 hours I
surrounded 34 km of the reeds, water and forest.
More than 10 stray dogs were
found inside the forest and between villages, but in villages those dogs were
present at every corner. Bioacustic monitoring to jackal species failed
probably due to the summer season which we assume that is not the best for this
density monitoring technique. At the little puddles and near the marshes no
jackal footprint was found. I listened dormouse (
Glis glis) in four locations. The night survey concluded at 01,30h.
The second day I’ve visited
the forest reserve on southern part of the Park. On the way distance of about
1km I observed two rodent
Apodemus sp.
individuals. First alive, but drowsy doing salts of about 40cm, but the second
was rigid, dead, probably it died during
the same night.
Apodemus sp in Comana Forest, drowsy
Dead individual, rigid, unknown cause
The site of the Apodemus sp (excessive dry or trophic relation)
In Comana Forest, on February 2002 and April 2005 were reported unknown cases of dead badgers (
Meles meles). Data from 4 badger burrows Comana Forest, in April 2005, showed an abundant food, that
the badgers can stock food reserves out of the cold season (
Murariu & Chisamera, 2005). The 53 specimens of
Apodemus sylvaticus and
Apodemus flavicollis, found at the entrance of the studied burrows are the proof. Among the components of the badger food, Murariu and Chisamera ( from Grigore Antipa National History Museum in Bucharest, Romania) identified two specimens of
Talpa europaea and a specimen of Muskrat (Bizam)
Ondatra zibethicus – the last species unreported on the web food of badger until these authors.
It is easy to suspect cause of
poisoned food or vaccines put by man for other carnivores, but taking into
account Murariu and Chisamera reports in Comana Forest years ago and that vaccines for rabies are supposed to be safe to
Apodemus sp as for Bats or other
mammals (see
here), I think
that the possibility of a trophic relation (predation) took place during the
night and that maybe badger is collecting their out cold season food.
3. Observations to jackal habitat
in control area of Dobrogea
During 2 days of boat travel
inside Danube Delta we followed the route from Murighiol through Erenciuc and
Puiu Lake to Crisan village; From here we traveled on the small motor boat
until Periprava and from Sfistofca to Letea Village we followed 7 km on foot.
On the unique calling station located between CA Rosetti and Letea villages we
did not have jackal responses (summer season).
Dobrogea control area is now
surrounded by Aeolian PARK and here we need to perform monitoring of dead bats
and bird to estimate a possible over limit of mortality indexes. The wheels are
sited on the migratory birds’ routes. On September-October 2013 it is plained
to estimate again density of jackals in 14.000ha of the Control area to compare
it with data obtained in 2011.
4. Eco-trekking Periprava –
Leteaskogen, Sfistofca and Letea villages
Ilya, writing the Network 2013 journal
Captain Ion Panait, Ilya Acosta Pankov and Ovidiu Banea on "Laura Boat", July 2013
Dovnica Channel
Nimphea Lotus sp
The current on Crisan to Caraorman channel is strong and this year the water flows to the North
Human activity
Vessel at Sfistofca
"Laura" has new colour and is prepared for a new challenge
Merhei Lake
Constanta (The ancient Tomis), Black Sea
Cardona, Salt Mountain, Catalunya Spain (yesterday)
Here in 986 Borell II gave the power to the Dukes of Cardona, kings without a Crown
Ecological Network Analysis of
jackal specific ecological system was suggested together with Ilya Acosta
Pankov, PhD Candidate of jackal ecology Thesis in Prof Spassov team, Sofia
Bulgaria. We observed Hoopoe Upupa epops,
European Roller Coracias garrulus, both
as tree nesting birds, maybe more than 200 Hoopoes and another dozens of
European Rollers. The last was declared the bird of the year 2012 by SEO BirdLife.
Is a NT migratory bird and here at Periprava seems that is not threatened.
Also ground nesting Phasianus can be observed in the area
and surely hundreds of other individuals of many species on the other side of
the reeds.
Cattle are present everywhere
after the yard of the Touristic Complex and yes; these have to be monitored during
the following jackal surveys. As in Evros (Maritsa) Delta, Comana Nature Park
Reserve or Matsalu Nature Park Reserve, cattle are observed as in every jackal
described habitats.
We followed the Letea Forest and
we arrived to more isolated village of Sfistofca. Here we met Mrs Jenica, one
of the leaders of Lipovan Russians Community. We met Mr “Van Gogh de Sfistofca”
Vasile and another inhabitant Mr Petrica. Sfistofca had 850 inhabitants between
the World Wars according to Mr Serbov, but now only 50 inhabitants live in this
silent locality. 30 of them are retired.
D. Vasile S. shows picture of school time, Lipovan Community in Sfistofca
Sfistofca
The beginnings of Lipovan Russians in Romania
need to be sought in the dramatic events that caused considerable upheaval in
Russia, in the late 17th century, eventually leading to the division of the
Russian society, and prompting a religious and social crisis the consequences
of which can still be seen. As proof of this entire stand the communities of
starovery Russians spread over the years
throughout the world (
Raskol). The
reform of the church cult and practice inspired by czar Alexei Mikhailovich
(1645-1675), and promoted by patriarch Nikon (1652-1658), caused a wave of
discontent and protest among the clergy and faithful of the Russian Church, the
measures taken by Russia’s lay and ecclesiastic authorities being deemed an
unacceptable offence brought to the Orthodox canons and teachings. (Source
Institutul Cultural Roman
here
)
5. Planning the 2nd International
Colloquium “European Concerns of Golden Jackal Populations’ Ecology” on
September, 13-15th, 2013
The meeting was not scheduled,
but there is a high possibility to organize it at Comana Nature Park Reserve
Administration Building or/and in Periprava at Hotel Ultima Frontiera.
II. Conclusions
1) SKUA
NATURE initiative is nature friendly. We visited Periprava Ultima Frontiera
Hotel and 800Ha where the profile of fisheries and fisherman paradise is now
completed with an wildlife observatory for raptor birds but also for jackals.
We will write an editorial for those observatory and we will open a full
broader activities with SKUA and UF Touristic Complex in Periprava. We call the
wildlife observatory the first nature
friendly wildlife observatory of raptor birds and jackals in Romania.
2) ENA
in jackal specific ecological systems17th -20th: Ilya
Acosta Pankov (NGO
Yoluka Europe) & Ovidiu C Banea (NGO
Crispus Sibiu Romania) achieved. We observed species of birds, tree nesting.
In Comana Apodemus sp identified,
seems to be part of a trophic relation of badger. But what can we do with drowsy
one… As food resourse in jackal diet also we consider those species as high
ecological interest for sustainable monitoring together with jackal density if
a broader project will be applied between ROMSILVA RNP, APNC and Crispus NGO
Sibiu.
3) Sfistofca
village people are an active Lipovan Russians Community and they need attention
of civic society. Crispus NGO will initiate a touristic project in the area.
4) A
Jackal Specific Ecological System Project
in COMANA will benefit by Crispus NGO experience. Valentin Grigore, Ovidiu
Banea and Petre Gargarea will plan the future activities and schedule of
planning.
5) NETWORK
2013, summer survey organized by the Ecology department of Crispus NGO Sibiu
Romania, was a joint activity of ROMSILVA (Inspector Eng Petre Gargarea),
Administration of Comana Nature Park Reserve (Director Eng Valentin Grigore).
In Danube Delta we monitored sites of Ultima Frontiera Complex with the help of
Mr Sorin Ros, an excellent guide and promoter of nature friendly photo tourism.
SKUA Nature wildlife observatory is now one key node of Crispus NGO Network.
Ecology Department of Crispus NGO Sibiu Romania
24.07.2013
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