Niedźwiedź, ryś i wilk w Małopolsce
- Year of publication: 1998
- Source: Show
- Pages: 181-192
- DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ksm199813
- PDF: ksm/02/ksm199813.pdf
Bears, Lynxes and Wolves in "Małopolska" (southeastern Poland)
These three species, the largest of European predators, had entirely disappeared in most of Europe by the middle of the 19th century. A small population remained in some parts of the Polish Carpathian Mountains. From information collected by this author, including questionnaires collected from 1980 to 1990 it has been shown that the numbers of bears, lynxes and wolves has definitely increased. At the beginning of the 1970's no more than 30 bears were found only in the Bieszczady and Tatra Mountains. Presently they can be found from the Bieszczady, through the Beskid Niski, Beskid Sądecki, the Tatra to the Beskid Żywiecki and Beskid Śląski. There are at least 120-140 animals. After World War [ lynx could be found only the Eastern Carpathian Mountains which no longer are a part of Poland. From World War ll until the 1970's their numbers increased and they were found over a larger area. This predator now occurs in very wooded regions of the Polish Carpathian Mountains. There are 180-250 animals. During World War II the number of wolves and the area where they occurred increased. As a result of a national action they were killed throughout the entire country. In the Bieszczady only about 100 animals were still alive at the beginning of the 1970's. When this action was stopped their numbers increased. During the 1990's they were found throughout almost all of the Carpathian Mountains and the eastern part of Małopolska. There are 400-500 animals.