When you hobnob with Slovakian shepherds, don’t mention wolves. A new study called Mitigating Carnivore-Livestock Conflict in Europe: Lessons from Slovakia, says: “Compared to other sectors of society shepherds had the most negative attitudes, particularly towards wolves.”
Wolves are again roaming the forests of Slovakia. They were almost wiped out in the mid-20th century, then reappeared thanks to a 30-year moratorium on hunting. Now the small-but-growing wolf population has restored its tradition of helping local livestock go missing or be mauled.
So begins this week’s Improbable Research column in The Guardian.
BONUS: One of the few classic documentary films about Slovakian sheep:
BONUS: A recent video of Slovakian sheep: