Coexistence through the Ages: the Role of Native Livestock Guardian Dogs and Traditional Ecological Knowledge as Key Resources in Conflict Mitigation between Pastoralists and Large Carnivores in the Romanian Carpathians

摘要: Livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) in the Romanian Carpathians are as old pastoral presence and activity region. The main role of these is to protect livestock from predation by large carnivores. Carpathian Mountains, opposed other European mountain ranges, have always had considerable populations wolf, brown bear, lynx; conflict with herders inevitable. Here, shepherds rely only on themselves their keep animals safe during movements. We investigated 12 sites historical regions Banat Transylvania, where we collected traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) use native LGDs an ancient non-lethal method for prevention depredation. By monitoring behavior dogs, establish a complex ethno-ethological relationship them, which helps them foretell movements carnivores vicinity. also recent positive change attitude some nature conservationists towards Shepherd Dog breed, currently promoted important international conservation NGOs ecologically friendly mitigate uninterrupted endemic LGD breeds pastoralists Romania might be one reasons survival here past future.