Traditions of coexistence in the Ukrainian Carpathians: a hrazhda-house

Wooden estates with a solid fence around the perimeter Hutsuls called - hrazhda. Their courtyard and living quarters were inside, surrounded by utility rooms and animal barns. Concrete walls and a high fence with strong gates protected the inhabitants from uninvited visits of wild animals.
The only known hrazhda-house in Ukraine is still a residential house, not a museum piece. Lyubov Marusyak is the owner of this "mini-fortress" at the foot of Mount Ihrets, and she has lived here since her birth. She knows from her grandfather that there are two wolf crossings near her house. Lyubov met wolves nearby many times and even saw bears' footprints. But this does not scare her because she, like her grandparents, used to live next to wildlife.
Generations in the Ukrainian Carpathians have preserved how to live and farm near wildlife. Locals still use traditional methods of protecting farms from wild animals. But each of them has its disadvantages and requires more participation of the shepherd. They often combined them for greater efficiency.
Ancient traditions contribute to locals' confidence in modern tools, such as electric fences. As a result, they become as familiar to farmers as they used to be.
In 2018-21, WWF-Ukraine distributed 29 sets of electric fences to protect farms and apiaries in the Carpathians. The Fund's experts also conducted a series of training events on the possibilities of coexistence tools and conflict prevention for farmers and stakeholders.
The coexistence between people and large carnivores in the Ukrainian Carpathians is possible!
The video was created by WWF-Ukraine within the LIFE EuroLargeCarnivores project.
[Geolocation: Bukovets village, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Ukraine]