UNGULATES
The Park houses several species of ungulates, in particular:
- Ibex (Capra)
- Chamois (Rupicapra)
- Roe Deer (Capreolus)
- Deer (Cervus elaphus)
For all the different species of ungulates present in the Park are carried out periodic censuses to assess the status and size of the population.
The Park for years has been pursuing a health monitoring plan of the fauna with special reference to ungulates; also in the case of the Ibex, is being carried out a specific research project, through the use of radio collar transmitters, that provides various types of ecoethology information about this species within the colony of the Park.
INTERACTIONS BETWEEN WILD AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS
Many of the infectious or parasitic diseases that affect wild ungulates are transmitted to them by domestic animals that gravitate around or share the same pastures.
The interaction between domestic and wild animals in the Park, thanks to the experience gained over the years, did not create any problems. Cattle grazing are normally wormed about 30-60 days before the climb to the alpine hut. For what concerns transhumant sheep, their transit was limited to travel roads in the valley through the park, in order to minimize the contact between the latter and the ungulates.
CAPTURES
Captures of wild animals in the Park, with particular reference to Ibex, are made to carry out ecologic- ethological and health research projects (Dr. Marco Favalli) on this high biological value ungulate.
The capture is done via remote anesthesia using a syringe-shooter or a blowgun. The use of anesthetic substances for the capture of wild animals requires a certain experience especially for the choice of the active principles and their correct dosage.
After being anesthetized animals are blindfolded to decrease stress and they undergo a clinical examination which includes a blood sample for laboratory examination. Biometric analysis are performed simultaneously and a radio collar is applied: it will provide location information and other physiological parameters of the animal for a few years.
Generally over a period of about ten minutes, the Ibex is awakened by administering an anesthetic antidote (antagonist drug) and released on the spot.
DISEASES
Diseases affecting ungulates are an important mechanism in the regulation of these animals’ population. We can distinguish not infectious diseases (hereditary, trauma, cancer, poisoning, etc.) and infectious ones. Not infectious diseases do not usually play a big role in the population regulation and their impact from the point of view of mortality is rather low with the exception of inbreeding problems. Infectious diseases differ in turn in micro-parasites diseases (virus, bacteria, protozoa) and macro- parasites (Helminths, Arthropods, other). The focal point for analysis and possible intervention is given by the host-parasite balance. The health, diagnostic and sometimes management approach of diseases affecting wildlife is very different than the health protocols used in veterinary medicine for large animals or pets. We can therefore talk about ecopathology of wildlife, or a medical field that considers the disease not as a single entity but as something related to other population parameters such as habitat or human presence. In this perspective, the disease must not always be seen as something negative, but under normal conditions it takes on the meaning of an animal population control. Sometimes, thanks to disturbances, which also affects the ecosystem, the host-parasite balance is changed and the infection can cause excessive or abnormal mortality phenomena.
KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS
Infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) caused by Mycoplasma conjunctivae is a highly infectious disease common among sheep and goats. This disease can be transmitted to wild ungulates, especially chamois and ibex, from infected sheep that are often silent carriers.
The infection is characterized by inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea, and in the last stages there is a complete blinding of the cornea with possible perforation of the eyeball. Recent investigations carried out in Switzerland (Giacometti et al., 2002) have shown that this disease is not endemic among the populations of chamois and that the infection source is given by domestic sheep.
Although the mortality normally remains at low levels (1-5%) can sometimes reach peaks of 25%.
The major infection peaks occur during spring and late autumn. How it happens for the mange the infected animals must not be killed, except in special cases, since a high percentage of animals overcome the disease.
The prophylactic activities must be focused on the correct management of grazing sheep and goats and the monitoring of the disease presence. Especially during outings it should be noticed if there are animals with walking difficulties, tear duct, strange behaviors that can be connected to a visual impairment.
SARCOPTIC MANGE
Sarcoptic mange in ungulates is caused by a external parasite mite called Sarcoptes scabiei var. rupicaprae and that is present in our region since 1949. The main way of transmission is direct contact. This disease also affects other species of ungulates in addition to chamois; in the Triglav Group in Slovenia, during an epidemic phase, mange has affected about 60% of the ibex population while in Spain some researchers have proven that domestic goats represent an important source of spread of the disease among chamois and ibex. The impact of mange on a population of animals that have never “met it” is often very heavy and causes high levels of mortality. The regression of the disease and the numeric recovery of the population takes place thanks to a percentage of subjects that are genetically predisposed to overcome the disease. Every 10-15 years less serious epidemics with rather low mortality occur. The disease not only affects old or sick specimens; in fact, numerous studies have shown that sex, age and density of chamois are not factors that predispose the onset of the disease. Also both sexes are equally affected. For years, the Natural Park of the Friulian Dolomites is carrying out a health monitoring plan that has as its target the preservation of the wildlife heritage that hosts. This plan, articulated on several fronts, has implemented a scientific cooperation project with numerous Italian and foreign research institutes. The data collected during this monitoring indicate that the population of chamois and ibex of the Friulian Dolomites Natural Park is one of the healthiest in the entire Alpine region; also so far it has not been reported any case of mange among chamois and ibex in the Park. With particular reference to the mange of ungulates, also considered the hotbeds of the nearby Veneto region (see map), for some years the Park of the Friulian Dolomites has been carrying out a specific project on sarcoptic mange. In the first instance, the Park has participated in several meetings on this issue that took place in the neighboring regions; later were organized two meetings for operators of the Park and on October 3rd , 2003 was held in Andreis a Conference on sarcoptic mange of ungulates which was attended by about one hundred people. The report after a brief introduction by Dr. Paolo Zucca was given by Prof. Luca Rossi of the Department of Animal Production, Epidemiology and Ecology of Veterinary Medicine, University of Turin, recognized as one of the top Italian experts in this disease. At the same time, with the Animal Prophylactic Institute of Pordenone and thanks to the collaboration with the Animal Prophylactic Institute of Trento and the Department of Animal Production, Epidemiology and Ecology of Veterinary Medicine of Turin has started a monitoring project focused on the presence of antibodies against the mite, in the blood of the ungulates in the Park.
PARASITIC DISEASE
Most of wild animals hosts parasites but that does not mean they are sick.
Only when the host-parasite balance, for various reasons, shifts in favor of the latter the disease occurs , usually in the chronic form.
The damage caused by parasites can be of different types but in general there is a impoverishment of the host’s resources.
Ungulates usually show:
- Gastrointestinal strongylosis – Tricostrongili Strongiloidi
- Distomatosi – Fasciola, Dicrocoelium sp., Fascioloides sp.
- Strongylosis bronchopulmonary – Dictiocaulidi, Protostrongili, Metastrongili
Birds of prey usually have:
- Serratospiculiasi
- Mallofagi
REINTRODUCTION INTO NATURE
From the health and faunistic point of view the re-introductions into the wild, or the placing of animals in a specific area where they already exist or has existed a population of these animals, are projects that need to be well researched and planned to avoid problems both from the genetic point of view and health as well. Various research institutes and associations (eg. National Institute for Wildlife, Italian Society of Eco- pathology Fauna, etc.) have drawn the guidelines to be followed in the case of re-introductions of animals, just to avoid the problems mentioned above.
The Natural Park of the Friulian Dolomites has pursued over the years two re-introduction projects on two key species: the ibex and the marmot. In both cases, in addition to a specific type of eco-ethological study that took into account the suitability of the area, the density of population, etc. of the receiving colony, there was also a health monitoring of all the re-introduced subjects. It also refers to the Ibex and Marmot Projects described in detail on this site.
As for the Ibex Project, most of the alpine ibex colonies derive from re-introduced examples from a single nucleus survived in the Gran Paradiso National Park.
The first reintroduction of ibex in the Natural Park of the Friulian Dolomites was carried out about twenty years ago with 26 subjects. The current population of ibex in the Park is approximately 200 subjects; over the years they were released again two small groups of animals coming from the Gran Paradiso National Park in order to increase the colonization and expansion of the colony.
