PEOPLE IN SYUNIK VILLAGE FEAR WOLVES ATTACKS

ARMENPRESS
Nov 27 2007

KAPAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS: People in the village of Nerkin Hand
in the southern province of Syunik are getting increasingly concerned
about how to protect their herds from wolves and jackals.

The village is located near Shikahogh natural reserve where hunting
is banned. Farmers reported over a dozen attacks on their sheep,
cattle and even horses over the last week.

Samvel Mkrtchian, head of the reserve, told Armenpress that local
authorities looked into the problem and will ask the nature protection
ministry’s permission for shooting some of the wolves and jackals.

Local experts say the abundance of wolves and jackals in the reserve
has resulted in dramatic decline of hares and other small animals. They
also fear that in spring when many animals give birth to their babies
the latter may become an easy prey to the predators.