The investigation was conducted during the time period 1984 to 1988. The records of the state insurance institute, containing data on wolf attacks on domestic animals were used (Table 1). In addition data on the numbers of wolves shot during that dme period were collected. The numbers shot per year are as follows: 1984 - 163, 1985 - 147, 1986 - 179, 1987 - 211, and 1988 - 220 animals. The numbers of wolves living in the various mountains were determined from a survey. For those mountain ranges taken into consideration, the following wolf populations were estimated: Rhodopen - 60-80 individuals and 189-264 km(2)/animal; Rila and Pirin Mountains - 60-80 animals and 109-145 km(2)/animal; Ossogowo - Belassiza Mountains - 40-50 wolves and 57-70 km(2)/animal; West and Central Balkan - 35-38 wolves and 200 km(2)/animal. Then there are 10-15 wolves in the river basin of Beli Lom and about 20 specimens in the Strandscha and Sakar Mountains, A total of 260-330 wolves were living in Bulgaria in 1988 (Fig.). The damage caused be wolves increases continuously. In 1984 there were 381 wolf attacks on flocks of sheep and 954 sheep were killed. That averages to 2.4 +/- 2.1 sheep killed per attack. For subsequent years the following data were determined (number of attacks, number of sheep killed, average number killed/attack): 1985 - 629 - 1429 - 2.3 +/- 1.6; 1986 - 824 - 1908 - 2.3 +/- 1.6; 1987 - 949 - 2203 - 2.3 +/- 1.5; 1988 - 1101 - 2869 - 2.6 +/- 1.8 (Table 2). During this time wolves also preyed on a total of 458 goats, 38 horses, 160 cows, 41 donkeys, and 28 mules. Measures to reduce the numbers of wolves in regions of intensive animal husbandry on unprotected pasturage must be undertaken without endangering this species in protected areas.
