European Regional Development Fund Operational Programme "Growth and Employment" Specific Aid Objective 1.1.1 "To increase the research and innovative capacity of scientific institutions of Latvia and the ability to attract external financing, investing in human resources and infrastructure" Activity 1.1.1.2 "Post-doctoral Research Aid" project No. 1.1.1.2/VIAA/3/19/511
The aim of the research is to investigate response dynamics of Latvian wolf and lynx subpopulation in relation to conservation and management actions, as well as local livestock depredation cases, identifying factors and regions under risk of the attacks. The available data material will be applied to create ecological models, simulating situations according to different demographic and environmental factors, hunting load and other parameter values. As a result, effect of different management and conservation actions will be assessed and factors related to higher risk of livestock depredation, causing financial loss to the sheep breeders, will be identified. The research will be conducted by the post-doctoral researcher at department of Game and wildlife management of the LSFRI "Silava" in collaboration with Game and hunting unit of the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).