site.btaBulgarian-Greek Study Finds Wildlife Overpass at Ilinden-Exochi Border Crossing Effectively Used by Large Mammals

The nature conservation organizations WWF Bulgaria and Callisto, Greece, have conducted a study on the effectiveness of the wildlife overpass at the Ilinden-Exochi border crossing, the Bulgarian nongovernmental organization said Thursday. The study found that the overpass, built in 2005 to provide a safe corridor for wildlife, is being used by large mammals, showing its effectiveness for ecological connectivity.

The study was the first on this scale and depth of analysis, WWF Bulgaria said. Experts of the organization and Callisto spent nearly  a year studying the overpass and its area, focusing the Brown bear, wolf, wild  boar, and deer. The fieldwork and 11 photo cameras placed on site (6 on Greek territory and 5 on Bulgarian territory) registered 511 sightings of large mammals.

Alexandar Dutsov, senior expert in wildlife conservation at WWF Bulgaria, said that all four species covered in the study used the wildlife overpass, which shows it does its job of providing ecological connectivity, which is key for the survival of wild animals. This connectivity allows  them to find food, appropriate hiding places, and breeding partners, he specified. 

As part of the study, data was also collected on bear damage in the area over the past 15 years. Such records exist specifically for bears, as they are a protected species and compensation is due for damage caused by them.

Conservationists from WWF Bulgaria and Callisto also met with residents of the municipalities of Hadzhidimovo and Exochi to find out about their attitude towards large predators, how familiar they are with conflict prevention measures and the compensation due.

A scientific publication will be prepared that will include an analysis of the bear habitat suitability as well as a comprehensive analysis of connectivity in the region.