Traditions of coexistence in the Ukrainian Carpathians: shepherd dogs

Shepherd dogs are one of the oldest and most common traditional coexistence tools. Every shepherd in the meadow has several dogs - one of the most common breeds in Ukraine to protect the herd is alabai. The breed is adapted to live in the mountains and is well-trained.
Vasyl Luchkiv breeds alabai on his farm "Dubovyi Kut" (Oak Corner). He is convinced that puppies must grow up among the sheep and consider them as a family from the first days. Then, in case of danger, they will faithfully defend their territory and "family". His alabai have repeatedly protected sheep from wolves and once resisted the lynx.
Generations in the Ukrainian Carpathians have preserved how to live and farm near wildlife. Locals still use traditional methods of protecting farms from wild animals. But each of them has its disadvantages and requires more participation of the shepherd. They often combined them for greater efficiency.
Ancient traditions contribute to locals' confidence in modern tools, such as electric fences. As a result, they become as familiar to farmers as they used to be.
In 2018-21, WWF-Ukraine distributed 29 sets of electric fences to protect farms and apiaries in the Carpathians. The Fund's experts also conducted a series of training events on the possibilities of coexistence tools and conflict prevention for farmers and stakeholders.
The coexistence between people and large carnivores in the Ukrainian Carpathians is possible!
The video was created by WWF-Ukraine within the LIFE EuroLargeCarnivores project.
[Geolocation: Dubovyi Kut, Novy Mizun village, Zakarpattia region, Ukraine]