Identification of high risk areas and effective environmental factors on wolf attacks on livestock in Hamedan province using MAXENT modeling method

Livestock predation by wolf is one of the most frequent sources of conflict between human and wildlife and one of the reasons for species extinction throughout the world. Recent documented reports about the wolf attacks on livestock in Hamedan province is an example of the occurrence of such conflicts. This study aimed to identify risky areas for wolves’ attacks on livestock and determination of environmental factors affecting these conflicts with maximum entropy modeling method using MAXENT software. The results showed that the most important factor is land use variable in study area. In making of map of high-risk areas، livestock density and distance from the river other effective factors are as well. According to obtained predictions، Bahar and Kaboodarahang are facing with the highest possibility of wolf attacks. Results of this study could be use as a useful tool for implementation of conservation activities for mitigation of wolf-livestock conflicts in high risk areas of Hamedan province.