Electronic identification of wild ruminants on Brijuni Island

On 15th of December 2006 on Brijuni island (Brijun veliki) we electronically tagged with ruminal boluses (Rumitag, hdx, 70 g) 5 fallow deer’s (Dama dama), 5 mouflon’s (Ovis musimon) and 2 zebus (Bos indicus). All of these species are ruminants so we used ruminal boluses as tagging method. Bolus after application ends in ruminal sacs where it stays for life. Tagged animals were read with handheld reader Gesreader 2 (Rumitag). As they are wild animals before tagging we had to tranquilize them first and it was done with tranquilizing rifle (DAN-INJECT CO2). Most important thing was that during the tranquilizing period animal doesn’t lose swallowing reflex. Tagging process is important in frames of traceability of animals and their products. Before mentioned animals are raised in ecological production system and should be declared as such. For traceability it is very important to be able to identify each animal. Even though wild animals are not usually tagged during their life this could be good way to do so. Wild ruminant population on Brijun veliki numbers some 2.000 animals. With this tagging method we could do full inventory of the ruminant population. In the same time, by installing of the dynamic readers on animal paths on the island we could update population size and get knowledge upon animal migrations in National park Brijuni.