The she-wolf named Eva saved from the poachers' trap

23 February 2005
 

On Wednesday, 23 February 2005, not far from the Runović village, in the Sebišine hamlet near Imotski, Adam Baković found a she-wolf entangled in a trap set for wild boars. A steel noose was tightened around her waist and while the animal was trying to free itself, the steel rope kept cutting deeper and deeper into its body causing severe injuries. With the help of some neighbours Adam Baković managed to free the she-wolf from the rope and carried her to his home, where he placed her into the stable. The news reached Zagreb as late as Friday, 25 February, precisely at the time when the meeting of the Committee for Monitoring Populations of Large Carnivores was taking place. Immediately the next day Prof. Dr. Josip Kusak from the School of Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb left for Sebišine.
After he had anaesthetized her with a narcotic it was found out that the injury caused by rope was spreading round the entire circumference of the animal's body. The infection has already advanced and it was decided to bring the female to the Veterinary Station of Imotski for a surgical treatment of the wound. With the assistance of other veterinarians from Imotski - Luka Majić, Ivan Gudelj Ivanica, Perica Tucak and Mario Maršić - the wound was surgically treated and the she-wolf was given all necessary medicines that will increase her chances to recover and survive.

 

The she-wolf was named Eva and was radio-collared by a GPS, which will make it possible to monitor her movements and activities and see whether she will survive. That same evening the she-wolf was set free.

The saving of the she-wolf named Eva is a positive example of how the local population can contribute largely to conservation of wildlife species and nature in general. Let us not forget that when speaking of the Republic of Croatia we always mention natural values that give the country prominence in relation to other countries in Europe and in the world.

Any placing of steel ropes in the wild, on the paths used by animals, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED AS A HUNTING METHOD and represents the worst possible method of poaching!

This is not the first case of a wild animal being caught in a noose made of steel rope and Dalmatia is here no exception.

 

During our research work relating to the project of "Large Carnivores of Croatia" we were called several times to free bears captured by the same type of traps. In the Kupa valley in Gorski kotar a female bear got caught by a rope that tightened around her front legs. She survived and was set free. A similar case happened near Slunj to a bear who was also freed alive. However, the outcome is not always so favourable. The third bear that we know of died because of the steel rope that tightened round his waist. All events described happened in Lika during 2004. How many other animals have been killed this way is still unknown.