Human-Gray Wolf Conflict: A Review of Conflict Management solutions

Abstract

Recent extinctions often resulted from humans retaliating against wildlife that
threatened people’s interests or were perceived to threaten current or future interests.
Conflict is any encounter between wildlife and humans or their property resulting in a
contest or interference competition. Therefore, conflict includes humans harming
animals or animals harming humans or their property claims, and the harm may be
motivated by any reason (intention is irrelevant). The conflict between humans and
carnivores in Iran has also grown significantly in recent decades. Among carnivores, the
gray wolf (Canis lupus) has a higher conflict with humans and animals. Wolves are
known in many countries as a common example of conflict with local people. In the
Middle East, field observations and studies on the wolf diet indicate the dependence of
this species on anthropogenic food resources (livestock, waste, etc.), which has led to a
severe conflict between this species with local communities. Unfortunately, the conflict
between humans and wolves has reached its peak in some parts of the country, especially
in the western regions of Iran (Hamadan, Zanjan, Kurdistan, and Ardabil provinces) to
the point that in recent years a number of local people, as well as a large number of
livestock, have been killed by wolves. Therefore, addressing the ecological and
behavioral aspects of this species is an important step in reducing conflicts. In this
research, using a review of some important papers related to human-wolf conflict, we
described some subjects into wolf diet, a wolf-dog hybrid, waste management, livestock
and poultry carcass management, and management of wolf attacks on humans and
livestock. An attempt has been made to use some of the latest findings of researchers in
the world and studies conducted in Iran. The results of this study can be used to manage
of human-wolf conflict in Iran.