Tensions between humans and wolves have led to intensive worldwide studies of wolf feeding habits and their relative preference for domestic and wild ungulates. The aim of this study was to provide further insight into the diet composition of wolves in Croatia, based on stomach contents of dead wolves. We examined spatial variation in wolf diet and prey selection relative to availability of wild and domestic animals. Furthermore, we aimed to determine selectivity in feeding habits in relation to wolf gender and age. The study was conducted on the stomach contents of 42 gray wolves (18 females, 24 males). Samples were collected from three regions of Croatia with different ratios of domestic and wild prey availability. The density ratio of domestic to wild ungulates increased gradually from north-west (5.8), through central (11.6) to south-east (134) Croatia. Wolf diet followed this pattern with the ratio of domestic animals increasing from 0.7 to 1.3 and 5.3, respectively. The relative share of wild ungulates in wolf diet was significantly higher in all three regions of wolf range in Croatia, even where livestock availability was high. Female wolves ate birds, rodents, and dogs more than males and in the south, where wild ungulates were scarce. This study showed wolves’ selectivity for wild ungulate, rather than for abundant, but well-guarded livestock. The European idea of coexistence of humans and wolves in human-dominated landscape seems possible with some effort and understanding from humans’ side.

中文翻译：

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克罗地亚的狼食和猎物选择

人与狼之间的紧张关系已导致全球范围内对狼的摄食习惯及其对家养和野生有蹄类动物的相对偏爱的研究得到深入研究。这项研究的目的是根据死狼的胃液含量，进一步了解克罗地亚的狼的饮食组成。我们研究了野生和家养动物相对于狼的饮食和猎物选择的空间变化。此外，我们旨在确定与狼的性别和年龄有关的进食习惯的选择性。该研究针对42头灰狼（18头雌性，24头雄性）的胃内成分进行。从克罗地亚三个地区收集的样本具有不同比例的家养和野生猎物。家畜与野生有蹄类动物的密度比从西北（5.8）到中部（11）逐渐增加。6）向东南（134）克罗地亚。狼的饮食遵循这种模式，家畜的比例分别从0.7增加到1.3和5.3。在克罗地亚，狼的三个区域中，野生有蹄类动物在狼饮食中的相对比例都显着较高，即使牲畜的可利用性很高。在南部，野生有蹄类动物稀少的地方，雌狼比雄性吃的鸟，啮齿动物和狗更多。这项研究表明狼对有蹄类动物的选择性，而不是对数量丰富但保护良好的牲畜的选择性。通过人类的努力和理解，欧洲人与狼在人类主导的景观中共存的想法似乎是可能的。在克罗地亚，狼的三个区域中，野生有蹄类动物在狼饮食中的相对比例都显着较高，即使牲畜的可利用性很高。在南部，野生有蹄类动物稀少的地方，雌狼比雄性吃的鸟，啮齿动物和狗更多。这项研究表明狼对有蹄类动物的选择性，而不是对数量丰富但保护良好的牲畜的选择性。通过人类的努力和理解，欧洲人与狼在人类主导的景观中共存的想法似乎是可能的。在克罗地亚，狼的所有三个区域中，野生有蹄类动物在狼饮食中的相对比例都显着较高，即使牲畜的可利用性很高。在南部，野生有蹄类动物稀少的地区，雌性狼吃鸟，啮齿动物和狗的数量比雄性狼多。这项研究表明狼对有蹄类动物的选择性，而不是对数量丰富但保护良好的牲畜的选择性。通过人类的努力和理解，欧洲人与狼在人类主导的景观中共存的想法似乎是可能的。但牲畜饲养得很好。通过人类的努力和理解，欧洲人与狼在人类主导的景观中共存的想法似乎是可能的。但牲畜饲养得很好。通过人类的努力和理解，欧洲人与狼在人类主导的景观中共存的想法似乎是可能的。