KANGAL: A LIVESTOCK GUARDIAN

How to protect livestock against damage caused by large predators? How to achieve a balance between human activity and wildlife in the wild? Worldwide, livestock guarding dogs are probably one of the most effective preventative measure in order to reduce depredation on farm animals, especially when animals graze in open country. Therefore, livestock guarding dogs can enhance coexistence between Man and predators. Bears and wolves densely inhabit Slovakia. In the Orava region, we had the unique possibility to observe and film eleven Turkish Kangals from puppy- to adulthood during one year. We documented the process of correct rearing which enabled pups to prepare for their future role of being good guardians of herds in the Slovak wilderness.