Semperviva

Last updated

Semperviva
Type Foundation
Founded1997
Headquarters Pernik
Area served
 Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Biodiversity Preservation Society, Semperviva, is a non-governmental, biodiversity conservation organization. Semperviva was founded in 1997, and works in close partnership with the Balkani Wildlife society. A project house in Vlahi provides the Balkani Wildlife society with a base from which to undertake biological field research on large carnivores, and also provides accommodation for volunteers. [1] Semperviva is a network partner of the European SAVE Foundation. [2]

Contents

Objectives

Semperviva is focused on studying and saving the rare autochthonic breeds of domestic animals in Bulgaria and also on the Balkan region. Specific goals include:

Karakachan breeds conservation project

Conservation of Karakachan sheep, Karakachan horse and Karakachan dog in Bulgaria.

Since fifteen years, The Bulgarian Biodiversity Preservation Society, Semperviva, has been active for the breed of Karakachan livestock guardian dogs. They are successful utilised for the protection of herds against bears and wolves which appear still frequently in Bulgaria. [3] For seven years, Semperviva has also been active for the conservation of the endangered Karakachan sheep and Karakachan horses. The old Karakachan breeds are one of the oldest forms of domestic animals in Europe. They are also the connection between the modern high-productive breeds and their wild predecessors. The three breeds are part of the natural, cultural and historical heritage of Bulgaria. The main goal of these projects is: saving the traditional way of their breeding as a symbiosis among them and their living environment. [4]

The long-term project started in the beginning of 2001 and is supported by: The SAVE Foundation, Frankfurt Zoological Society and private donors. The Karakachan sheep, Karakachan horse and Karakachan dog are local breeds, which had been formed on the Bulgarian lands, as a result of the most primitive type of livestock breeding – nomad livestock breeding. The Karakachans are Balkan nomad people who, due to their extremely conservative livestock breeding traditions, are considered to have saved the most primitive and pure domesticated forms of animals – a sheep type "tzakel", a mountain horse and a livestock guardian dog.

Although The project for saving the three Karakachan breeds is initiated by the BBPS – Semperviva. Different agencies and institutions are involved in this project. Main partners of BBPS – Semperviva are local private farmers from Kresna municipality in Pirin mountain and the Balkani Wildlife society. The Pirin National Park administration is going to provide in kind support to the project. Here you can read more about the karakachan projects and here you can read more about the —United Nations Development Programme— for Bulgarian projects.

Karakachan sheep

The Balkan Peninsula is covered with the marks of different ethnic groups who have, over the centuries, spent time in the area. This is reflected in the richness of the many physical and geographical attributes—also in the many different breeds. [5]

The Karakachan sheep is accepted as the most typical and most primitive, coarse wool sheep type "tzakel" in Bulgaria. This was proved by the craniometrical research of Balevska, Petrov (1967). According to the same authors this sheep is closest to the European mouflon (Ovis musimon). The Karakachan sheep is small (about 57 cm at withers), the short and thin tail is typical sign of the breed. Its wool is coarse and long (up to 26 cm). The coloration is grey-black and brown-black, but very seldom white. Very vital and energetic animal, very tough, almost never being ill, very unpretentious towards the food source. Highly developed feeling for being in a flock. Low productivity of litters (100 – 102%). The Karakachan sheep had been one of the most widespread breeds in Bulgaria in the past. [6] In the beginning of the 20th century the population size had been more than 500 000 individuals. In 1957, during the nationalization of the farming practice, the number is decreased to 158 896 individuals. At that time the socialist government decided to replace the local breeds of sheep with foreign, fine-fleeced. As a consequence of the state policy the local breeds had been massively crossbred with other breeds. There are other factors which threaten the breed. The alpine pastures in the country are hardly used. But if the Karakachan sheep is bred in lower mountainous lands it has lower productivity compared with other breeds. At the moment the mountain livestock breeding is a losing practice. The government does not stimulate private livestock breeders to keep and work with autochthon breeds. Semperviva has already bought and secured 37 of the remaining Karakachan sheep.

The project is advised by the SAVE Foundation and financed by 'Fondation pour les Animaux du Monde, Vaduz/Liechtenstein.

Karakachan horse

The Karakachan horse was the most consolidated breed from all the local primitive horses. This is due to the very conservative livestock breeding traditions of karakachan nomads. They had used these horses for transportation of their whole household, during the seasonal migrations. The pasture had been the only food for those animals. The horses which had not been currently used by people had stayed all year round high in the mountain in groups taking care about themselves. Even during cold winters they had found food and protected themselves from predators. Each Karakachan man had owned 50-100 horses in the past. In 1940s this number was decreased to 10-15 and seldom 50 animals from which 5 – 10 breeding mares from old breeding lines. In 1957-58 after the government took away the livestock from private owners, the Karakachan horses have not been in use by the state farms anymore. They had been just killed or exported for meat (mostly to Italy). Attempts have been made in the state farms to "improve" the breed by crossbreeding with Hucul, Kabardin or Kabarda and Haflinger. Till now the government does not have policy to save the aboriginal breeds of horses. There is no promotion of their valuable qualities. According to the Red Data List of autochthonic forms of domestic animals(1994) [7] the Karakachan horse is put in category II – disappearing forms (or critical). The census made by the SEMPERVIVA project in 2002, registered 362 animals.

Read and see more about the Karakachan horse in this study from the Department of Animal Science – Non-Ruminant and Other Animals, Faculty of Agriculture, Trakia University. [8]

Karakachan dog

Karakachan dogs guarding the flock Karakachan (1).jpg
Karakachan dogs guarding the flock

The Karakachan dog is an ancient breed of livestock guarding dog. [9] It originates from the shepherd dogs of the ancient Thracians and Asian Livestock guardian dogs of the proto-Bulgarians. Karakachan people had bred this dog conservatively and had formed its present type. Due to its perfect working qualities this breed has been widely used by shepherds in Bulgaria. Similarly to the above two breeds, the socialist regime almost manages to annihilate the Karakachan dog. Up to day the government has not supported the breed survival in any way, except including it in the Red Data List of the autochthonic forms of domestic animals as a disappearing breed (or critical). Semperviva started the work for saving the Karakachan dog in 1992. Since the beginning a breeding station has been established, where the breeding process is made on the base of aboriginal dogs. A breed standard and a herd book were worked out. An International Karakachan Dog Association was founded. Semperviva has always aimed to save this breed as a working dog with its original qualities. In this aspect, since 1997, in cooperation with the Balkani Wildlife Society, dogs have been provided to livestock breeders for protection of their flocks against predators. In this way it is aimed to decrease the conflict between people and large carnivores (wolves and bears) and to restore the breed in its natural environment. This particular project has been supported by several foundations in different years of its implementation: European Natural Heritage Fund – Euronatur, GzSW, UK Wolf Conservation Trust and Alertis. [10] Thanks to these activities there is a slight trend of increase of working dogs. The three breeds, subject of the project have been selected by Karakachan people, which are ancient, autochthonic, ethnic group of nomad livestock breeders. The three breeds, which are one of the oldest in Europe, had been numerous in Bulgaria before the nationalization of the private property during the socialist regime. As a consequence of that time politics in the farming practice, these breeds have been massively crossbred with foreign more productive ones and also huge numbers of them have been exterminated without control. All this have brought these karakachan breeds to the edge of extinction. In addition, nowadays the mountain livestock breeding is a losing practice. The government does not actively stimulate private livestock breeders to keep and work with autochthonic breeds.

Project results

In the frames of the project was achieved following results: [11]

Goals for future action

The conservation measures that are needed for saving karakachan breeds could apply towards saving of all the autochthonic breeds in Bulgaria. Semperviva is thus working towards achieving the following points:

  1. Creating legislation to enable conservation, as there is currently no legal basis for conservation of local breeds in Bulgaria.
  2. Making an official distinction of the original old type of the autochthonic breeds from their "improved" types.
  3. Establishing a genetic bank (of semen and embryos) for autochthonic breeds.
  4. The government should stimulate the use of alpine pastures and the seasonal migrations as more environmentally friendly and as traditional for the old autochthonic breeds.[ clarification needed ]
  5. Changing the time at which government subsidies for the National gene fund are given. Currently this money is given in spring, which Semperviva feels is wrong time of the year. Semperviva believes that this is when the forage is most expensive and the owners do not need subsidies at this time.

See also

Related Research Articles

Dingo Canid species native to Australia

The dingo is an ancient (basal) lineage of dog found in Australia. Its taxonomic classification is debated as indicated by the variety of scientific names presently applied in different publications. It is variously considered a form of domestic dog not warranting recognition as a subspecies, a subspecies of dog or wolf, or a full species in its own right.

Breeding back

Breeding back is a form of artificial selection by the deliberate selective breeding of domestic animals, in an attempt to achieve an animal breed with a phenotype that resembles a wild type ancestor, usually one that has gone extinct. Breeding back is not to be confused with dedomestication.

Herding dog Type of dog used for herding

A herding dog, also known as a stock dog, shepherd dog, sheep dog or working dog, is a type of dog that either has been trained in herding or belongs to breeds that are developed for herding.

Purebreds are "cultivated varieties" of an animal species achieved through the process of selective breeding. When the lineage of a purebred animal is recorded, that animal is said to be "pedigreed". Purebreds breed true-to-type which means the progeny of like-to-like purebred parents will carry the same phenotype, or observable characteristics of the parents. A group of purebreds is called a pure-breeding line or strain.

Crossbreed Animal with parents of differing breeds

A crossbreed is an organism with purebred parents of two different breeds, varieties, or populations. Crossbreeding, sometimes called "designer crossbreeding", is the process of breeding such an organism, While crossbreeding is used to maintain health and viability of organisms, irresponsible crossbreeding can also produce organisms of inferior quality or dilute a purebred gene pool to the point of extinction of a given breed of organism.

Breed clubs are associations or clubs with activities centered on a single, specific breed of a particular species of domesticated animal. The purpose of the association will vary with the species of animal and the goals and needs of the members of the association. Breed associations or clubs may vary in their goals, activities and nomenclature from country to country, even for the same breed. Most domesticated animals, whether they are agricultural animals such as cattle, llamas, poultry, sheep and pigs, or companion animals such as pigeons, horses, cats and dogs, have breed clubs associated with the breed.

Landrace Infraspecific name

A landrace is a domesticated, locally adapted, traditional variety of a species of animal or plant that has developed over time, through adaptation to its natural and cultural environment of agriculture and pastoralism, and due to isolation from other populations of the species. Landraces are generally distinguished from cultivars, and from breeds in the standardized sense, although the term landrace breed is sometimes used as distinguished from the term standardized breed when referring to cattle.

Kangal Shepherd Dog Dog breed

The Kangal Shepherd or Turkish Kangal Dog is a historic breed of large livestock guardian dog native to Turkey. Originally the breed served the people of Sivas, and the Kangal continues to be a popular dog breed in Turkey. According to official Kangal Shepherd Dog organisations in Turkey, the acceptable colours for Kangal are sable and fawn. Kangal shepherd dogs do not come in brindle or Black and Tan.

A breed registry, also known as a herdbook, studbook or register, in animal husbandry and the hobby of animal fancy, is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. Animals are usually registered by their breeders while they are young. The terms studbook and register are also used to refer to lists of male animals "standing at stud", that is, those animals actively breeding, as opposed to every known specimen of that breed. Such registries usually issue certificates for each recorded animal, called a pedigree, pedigreed animal documentation, or most commonly, an animal's "papers". Registration papers may consist of a simple certificate or a listing of ancestors in the animal's background, sometimes with a chart showing the lineage.

Exmoor pony Breed of horse

The Exmoor pony is one of the mountain and moorland pony breeds native to the British Isles. Some still roam as semi-feral livestock on Exmoor, a large area of moorland in Devon and Somerset in southwest England. The Exmoor has been given "Priority" conservation status by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (UK), and "threatened" status by The Livestock Conservancy (USA). Exmoor ponies are particularly well-adapted to cold and wet weather and therefore very hardy, having conformation similar to that of other cold-weather-adapted pony breeds. The free-roaming herds on Exmoor contribute to the conservation and management of several natural habitats. Most foals born into the free-living herds are sold and with taming and training undertake a variety of equestrian activities.

A backyard breeder is an amateur animal breeder whose breeding is considered substandard, with little or misguided effort towards ethical, selective breeding. Unlike puppy mills and other animal mill operations, backyard breeders breed on a small scale, usually at home with their own pets, and may be motivated by things such as monetary profit, curiosity, to gain new pets and/or working animals, or to show children "the miracle of birth".

Jacob sheep British breed of domestic sheep

The Jacob is a British breed of domestic sheep. It combines two characteristics unusual in sheep: it is piebald—dark-coloured with areas of white wool—and it is often polycerate or multi-horned. It most commonly has four horns. The origin of the breed is not known; broken-coloured polycerate sheep were present in England by the middle of the seventeenth century, and were widespread a century later. A breed society was formed in 1969, and a flock book was published from 1972.

Central Asian Shepherd Dog Dog breed

The Central Asian Shepherd Dog, also known as the Alabay or Alabai, is a livestock guardian dog breed. Traditionally, the breed was used for guarding sheep and goat herds, as well as to protect and for guard duty.

Karakachan dog Dog breed

The Karakachan dog is a breed that originated from Bulgaria. It is related to the livestock guardian dogs of the surrounding countries: Romania to the north, North Macedonia and Serbia to the west, and Greece and Turkey to the south. The dog is named after the Karakachans, Greek nomadic shepherds. Due to their conservative stock-breeding traditions, they have preserved some of the oldest breeds of domestic animals in Europe: the Karakachan sheep, Karakachan horse and the Karakachan dog.

The Livestock Conservancy US conservation organization for livestock breeds

The Livestock Conservancy, formerly known as the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) and prior to that, the American Minor Breeds Conservancy, is a nonprofit organization focused on preserving and promoting rare breeds, also known as "heritage breeds" of livestock. Founded in 1977, through the efforts of livestock breed enthusiasts concerned about the disappearance of many of the US's heritage livestock breeds, the Conservancy was the pioneer livestock preservation organization in the United States, and remains a leading organization in that field. It has initiated programs that have saved multiple breeds from extinction, and works closely with similar organizations in other countries, including Rare Breeds Canada. With 3,000 members, a staff of nine and a 19-member board of directors, the organization has an operating budget of almost half a million dollars.

Livestock guardian dog Dog type bred for the purpose of protecting livestock from predators

A livestock guardian dog (LGD) is a dog type bred for the purpose of protecting livestock from predators.

Rare breed Breed of poultry or livestock that has a very small breeding population

In modern agriculture, a rare breed is a breed of poultry or livestock that has a very small breeding population, usually from a few hundred to a few thousand. Because of their small numbers, rare breeds may have a threatened conservation status, and they may be protected under regional laws. Many countries have organizations devoted to the protection and promotion of rare breeds, for which they each have their own definition. In botany and horticulture, the parallel to rare animal breeds are heirloom plants, which are rare cultivars.

Bulgarian Scenthound Dog breed

The Bulgarian Scenthound is a dog breed from Bulgaria. It originated in the Ludogorie region of northern Bulgaria, and is the most widely distributed smooth-haired hunting dog in Bulgaria. It is a non-standardised breed but conforms to hound body morphology.

Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen Rare breed conservation association

The Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen or GEH is a German national association for the conservation of historic and endangered domestic animal breeds.

Cão de Gado Transmontano Dog breed

The Cão de Gado Transmontano or Transmontano Mastiff is a breed of livestock guardian dog from Portugal. It originates in the historical province of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro in north-eastern Portugal, and is a rare breed confined mostly to this area.

References

  1. ↑ Rare Breeds Center -Semperviva. Arca-Net. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  2. ↑ Our partners… Archived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine SAVE Foundation. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  3. ↑ A new reputation for wolves Euronatur. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  4. ↑ The valuable indigenous Karakachan Species of horse, sheep and dog. Karakachan. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  5. ↑ SAVE Focus 2005-Special Edition Balkan Archived 7 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine SAVE Foundation. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  6. ↑ Vulture Conservation in Bulgaria. Zoologischen Gesellschaft Frankfurt. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  7. ↑ Curt Meine (10 January 2013). "Conserving Biological Diversity in Bulgaria: The National Biological Diversity conservation Strategy".{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ↑ G. Barzev; G. Yordanov; Yu. Yuseinov. "The Bulgarian Primitive Horse in the Area of Stara Planina Mountain" (PDF). Trakia Journal of Sciences. 3 (1). ISSN   1312-1723.
  9. ↑ "Carnivore Damage Prevention News" (PDF). KORA. December 2005. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  10. ↑ Fund for bear and nature Conservation. Alertis. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  11. ↑ "Development of the Rare Breeds Center activities". Small Grants Programme. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.