First data on population of stray dogs in Rostov-on-Don

DOI 10.33861/2071-8020-2020-2-27-28

Ermakov A.M., Evsyukov A.P.

Summary. Animal populations in large cities have long been the subject of public and scientific discussions. In Russia, there are currently no federal laws regarding the management of stray animal populations. The most common and problematic animals in cities are dogs. Urban populations of homeless and stray dogs are an important link in the conservation and transmission of pathogens that can lead to the development of zooanthroposes.To regulate the situation associated with homeless and stray dogs, it is necessary to take into account their number, gender and age composition. These data allow the competent management of the population and timely take measures to regulate it. The first data on the population of stray dogs in Rostov-on-Don are presented in the article. For animal counting was used technique developed by the ICAM coalitionrepeatedly tested in different cities of Europe and shown its efficiency. To estimate the number of dogs, the city was divided into 59sectors approximately equal in area. Each sector was divided into four parts, one of them was counted, the rest of the data was extrapolated. In each sector, 2-3 volunteers worked, who recorded the dogs they met, noting at the same time their approximate age, gender, size, and possible health problems. All actions during the calculations were carried out using the Strays ID program installed on volunteers' smartphones. According to the results of calculations, the total number of stray dogs in the city is approximately 2 712 individuals. The data on the sexual composition of the population, the number of sick and damaged dogs, their physique, spatial distribution by city districts and density are discussed.

Keywords: population, domestic dogs, stray dogs, stray dogs, sexual composition, quantitative distribution, population density.

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Author affiliation:

Ermakov Aleksey M., D.Sc. in Biology, professor, head of the department of Biology and Pathonomy, Dean of the faculty of Bioengineering and Veterinary Medicine of the Don State Technical University; 1,Gagarina sq., Rostov-on-Don, 344003; phone: 8-863-2738611; e-mail: amermakov@ya.ru.

Responsible for correspondence with the editorial board: Evsyukov Aleksandr P., Ph.D. in Biology, docent of the department of Biology and Pathonomy of the faculty of Bioengineering and Veterinary Medicine of the Don State Technical University; 1, Gagarina sq., Rostov-on-Don, 344003; phone: 8-863-2738611; e-mail: aevsukov@mail.ru.