The only brown bear sanctuary in Western Balkans is situated in Kuterevo and it hosts more than 25000 visitors and 300 international volunteers yearly. Thus, it provides unique opportunity for long-term conservation education programs for volunteers and general public.

Despite high public interest in large carnivores, the knowledge level is often quite low what may lead to spreading of wrong concepts like: “too many bears or wolves”,”they are dangerous to people”, or “damages cannot be avoided if carnivores are present”. That results in low public acceptance that at the end line decides about the very survival of species in certain area. Social carrying capacity may be so low that even a few individuals cannot be tolerated (like in parts of Pyrenees or Alps), or can be high enough to allow presence of big and growing population (like bears in Croatia). Gaining and maintaining public acceptance is the continuous challenge. Part of these efforts may be merged with collection of useful data for management decisions.

Comprehensive monitoring program for large carnivores requires large amounts of manpower and time to succeed. Assistance from general public and volunteers is crucial and required but needs to be optimized, and proper training needs to be conducted. The project will use the perfect location of the sanctuary for orphaned bears in Kuterevo, its facilities and manpower available. With proper coordination and good training plan the long lasting positive effect will be achieved. Educating interest groups and general public will be a long-term investment of the project. Both, the natural habitat of large carnivores and the facility with properly held captive individuals would be used in systematic program in this project. The expertise of the team conducting research will be used to train the team of volunteers and other monitors on proper conducting of sign survey and other monitoring methods.

Education will be conducted by means of explaining conservation issues during guided tours conducted by the volunteers in the sanctuary. Also graphic educational tools will be used to achieve the goal of raising conservation awareness. Posters on conservation and coexistence with large carnivores and will be exhibited on an established educational trail. Educational folders will be printed and used for training groups and visitors.