1. „Distribution of brown bear (Ursus arctos L., 1758) on mountains
Manjača, Čemernica and Uzlomac,
north of Bosnia and Herzegovina“
First Balkan Rufford Small Grants Conference
“Nature knows no boundaries”
Igor Trbojević, Ph.D Mile Jović
Banja Luka 2016

2. The project “Distribution, status and protection of brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Bosnia and Herzegovina” is an extensive study and research designed to study the brown bear population in Bosnia and Herzegovina and this presentation outlines the first stage of the study.

3. Distribution of Brown bear in Europe in 2011
Distribution of Brown bear in Europe in Dark blue cells indicate areas of permanent occurrence, and light blue cells indicate areas of sporadic occurrence. Orange lines indicate boundaries between populations.

4. Brown bear (Ursus arctos) is the largest wild animal that lives in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH).
This species is one of the most important representatives of biodiversity in BH and as such it plays an important role in its maintenance.
This species is an autochthon species in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Brown bear is placed on top of the food chain and threatened only by humans and their activities (anthropogenic influence).

5. In Bosnia and Herzegovina there are two laws on the protection of wild animals: the Law on Hunting of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Law on Hunting of the Republic of Srpska.
Both these laws put the brown bear under the protection during the closed season.
Still, because of the alleged increasing number of bears, information has been exposed that the current protection may be abolished!!! Who gives these suggestions / information? Why?

6. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA
FEDERATION OF B&H
Abundance
Killed
Year
556 /
2006 6
580
2007 10
598
2008 5
610
2009 19
629
2010 27
649
2011 52
650
2012 3
685 7
2013 4
673 14
2014 26
TOTAL
133 ?
The data are taken from the official republic statistical yearbooks from both entities.

7. In B&H, nobody has ever scientifically determined the number of individuals in the population of brown bears, nothing is known about the dynamics of movement, including the territories of individuals.
Also, there is no management plan for this species.
These are all very good reasons to deal with this issue, which was exactly what prompted this extensive research.
So, we set objectives.

8. Overall objectives:
Increase the level of knowledge on species,
Establish the presence of the species in specified areas,
Determine the permanent localities (constant presence of the species in the region),
To find out the size of the territory of individuals,
To establish the dynamics of movement of individuals,
Establish the cause of death of individuals,
Better use of habitat,
The relationship between humans and bears.

9. Long-term objectives:
Assessment of the condition of species (abundance)
Management plan for the species
Maintenance of the current status of protection or influence on the change of status into permanent protected species.

10. Methodology and Materials
establish the location of the project implementation (determination of transect zones)----we are planning to visit the following localities: the mountains of Manjača, Čemernica, Tisovac, Uzlomac, Vlašić and Janj, and choose three localities----transect method,
sampling material (faeces and traces), in the case of hunted bears, we will try to get the tissue or hair samples for future DNA analysis,
storage of materials until the final analysis (faecal samples will be stored in a freezer at the temperature of -20˚ C)
after thawing, they will be soaked in warm water
rinse with water through a sieve (mesh 0.5 mm)

11. Found residues will be rinsed in 96% alcohol and then dried at the room temperature and measured on the scales (accuracy 0.1 g)
determination (hair, bones) will be performed based upon the reference keys.
The method of counting (in spring and autumn), from hunting watchtower, provides objective information on the actual number of bears at a particular locality and at a certain time.
Installed photo-traps at the established transects. Analyses of images from photo-traps lead to a better insight into the movement of individual bears on the field, but the results of shots can also be used in the determination of individuals.

12. Results
Transects are established at three mountains: Manjača, Uzlomac and Čemernica:
5 transects on Manjača,
3 on Uzlomac and
3 on Čemernica.
Photo traps were set on all transects (total 23 photo traps (Hunting Association allowed us to use 13 cameras)).
Faecal samples were collected and all traces of the bear were documented.
Counting from hunting watchtower was done once (in autumn 2015) and will be done in the spring of 2016.

14. Bears are documented on all three locations with a total of 15 individuals:
1. Locality Mountain of Manjača - 6 individuals: 3 adults (1 older male, 1 younger male and 1 female) and 3 cubs (All individuals were registered and recognized on pictures from photo traps, measuring traces and seen from hunting watchtower);
2. Locality Mountain of Uzlomac - 6 individuals: 4 adults (1 older male, 2 younger individuals and 1 female) and 2 cubs (All individuals were registered and recognized on pictures from photo traps, measuring traces and seen from hunting watchtower);
3. Locality Mountain of Čemernica - 3 individual: 1 adult male, 1 adult female and 1 cub (the reasearch on this locality has not been completed yet and is due to end in April 2016); (the male was seen from hunting watchtower, the female and the young were registered on photographs from photo traps and tracked by the measurements of trace).

15. In addition to these data, we found out the locations of other bears (3 individuals), which inhabited the hill areas around the city of Banja Luka:
Mountain Vodički vrh - 1 female,
outskirts of Bronzani Majdan – a young abandoned bear
National Park "Kozara“ – 1 female
In total, we registered 18 individuals of the brown bear

17. All registered bears are healthy and in good physical condition.
Monitoring of these individuals continues.
We hope to continue to cooperate with Rufford in order to complete the project as planned.

18. THANK YOU FOR
ATTENTION