Only one fatal bear attack recorded in Armenia over the past decade, environmental expert says

The conflict between humans and wildlife has become increasingly evident in Armenia, as elsewhere in the world, taking on new forms year after year. Speaking to Armenpress in Vayots Dzor Province, Tsvinar Hovhannisyan, Head of Environmental Programmes at the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC), discussed the country’s environmental challenges and possible solutions.

The interview took place during a media visit to the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge in Vayots Dzor. Given the location, the discussion focused in greater detail on environmental issues affecting the region.

– How urgent and significant is the issue of human-wildlife conflict in Armenia?

– The problem has become particularly acute across different regions of Armenia over the past decade, partly due to climate change. People are gradually expanding their presence into wildlife habitats, converting them into farmland, hayfields and areas for other types of economic activity.

As a result, they are reducing and fragmenting the habitats and migration routes of wild animals, which inevitably leads to conflict.

In Vayots Dzor Province, one of the most pressing issues is the longstanding conflict between beekeepers and bee-eater birds. There is also concern over the possible disappearance of otters, whose presence and the damage they cause have become a source of complaints among fish farm operators. More broadly, however, the conflict between humans and wildlife is intensifying around the world.

– Are bear incursions into settlements in Vayots Dzor also an urgent concern?

– Yes. Bears are Armenia’s largest mammals, but they are also predators. Naturally, people try to stay as far away from them as possible and increasingly report sightings near populated areas.

For several years now, the number of bear incursions into settlements in the province has ranged between 100 and 200 annually. The damage caused each year is estimated at 12–20 million drams, while the estimated value of a single bear is about 3 million drams.

I believe Armenia has the tools needed to address this issue, and their effective application could significantly reduce the number of such incidents.

– Have there been cases of bear attacks on people, including fatal ones?

– Over the past decade, one or two incidents involving bear attacks or encounters between humans and bears have been recorded each year. Only one of those incidents resulted in a fatality, although there have also been cases in which people sustained injuries of varying severity.

Several years ago, on the slopes of Mount Aragats, a very large male bear weighing around 300 kilograms attacked a group of Polish tourists. For one of them, the encounter proved fatal.

– Do leopards approach human settlements less frequently?

– There are virtually no problems involving leopards because their population in Armenia is significantly smaller and their range is much more limited.

In addition, leopards behave differently. They avoid people because they have sufficient habitat and prey in the wild.

Several years ago, there was a recorded leopard attack on a person in Armenia, but that incident occurred after the animal had first been shot at.

– How serious is the issue involving bee-eater birds, and what measures are being taken to address it?

– Armenia is home to two species of bee-eaters: the European bee-eater and the Blue-cheeked bee-eater. The latter is listed in Armenia’s Red Book and is therefore protected, unlike the former.

These birds feed on bees, and many beekeepers have found no better solution than killing them, which threatens their populations in Armenia.

It should be noted that bee-eaters breed in Armenia but migrate to Africa during the colder months, encountering numerous natural and human-made obstacles along the way.

Protecting these birds is extremely important because they play a significant ecological role. We therefore need to study international experience in addressing this issue, analyse it carefully and identify the solutions that would be most effective in Armenia.

Bee-eaters are not game species, and any attempt to hunt them is illegal.

– In this context, let us also discuss wolf attacks on livestock, including cases in which wolves enter barns in populated areas. Should this also be viewed as part of the human-wildlife conflict, or does it indicate a change in the predators’ behaviour?

– It is certainly a manifestation of human-wildlife conflict. In some cases, so-called electric fencing has proven to be an effective solution.

In general, there has been extensive research on ways to reduce such attacks. For example, one recommendation is to build circular rather than rectangular livestock enclosures, preventing wolves from driving an entire herd into a corner and attacking all the animals.

In many countries, livestock are also fitted with metal collars, which reduce the risk of fatal bites to one of the animals’ most vulnerable areas. And, of course, the use of livestock guardian dogs remains one of the most effective methods of protecting domestic animals.

In other words, I believe that applying a comprehensive set of measures can significantly mitigate the problem.

In fact, wolf attacks on livestock have declined considerably in Armenia. This is partly because electric fencing has become widely used in the country’s northern regions. Nevertheless, another case involving a wolf attack that caused substantial losses to a livestock owner was recorded recently.

The reasons vary, but there is no doubt that people also need to remain vigilant and be able to respond as quickly as possible to attacks in order to avoid major losses.

– Has the wolf population increased in Armenia?

– I cannot answer that question because no comprehensive scientific studies have been conducted. Current assessments are based mainly on the opinions of individual specialists.

– Another apparent manifestation of the relationship between humans and wildlife is the presence of reptiles and insects in or around residential buildings. What is the current situation, and how can it be addressed?

– I would not describe that as a human-wildlife conflict because one of the defining characteristics of such conflicts is material damage caused by the animal.

The presence of snakes near homes is primarily a matter of public safety and health. At the same time, people should remember that snakes also play an important ecological role by helping regulate rodent populations in agricultural areas.

People simply need to be as cautious and prepared as possible when encountering snakes, including ensuring the availability of appropriate antivenom. It is also important to take practical measures to prevent reptiles and venomous insects from entering residential buildings.

– Are you currently involved in any environmental projects?

– With the support and funding of the UK government, we are currently implementing a programme aimed at mitigating human-bear conflict in the context of climate change, strengthening community resilience and improving communities’ capacity to adapt.

As part of the project, various types of data are being collected and analysed. Environmental decisions based on those findings are already producing tangible results and helping reduce the damage suffered by rural communities.

Interview by Hrayr Nazaryan