Continuing recovery of wolves in Europe

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pstr.0000158
• Publication Date: 2025-02-25T18:40:07Z
• Authors: Cecilia Di Bernardi; Guillaume Chapron; Petra Kaczensky; Francisco Álvares; Henrik Andrén; Vaidas Balys; Juan Carlos Blanco; Silviu Chiriac; Duško Ćirović; Nolwenn Drouet-Ho...; Djuro Huber; Yorgos Iliopoulos; Ilpo Kojola; Miha Krofel; Miroslav Kutal; John D. C. Linnell; Aleksandra Majić ...; Peep Männil; Francesca Marucco; Dime Melovski; Deniz Mengüllüoğlu; Joachim Mergeay; Robert W. Mysłajek; Sabina Nowak; Jānis Ozoliņš; Nathan Ranc; Ilka Reinhardt; Robin Rigg; Valeria Salvatori; Laurent Schley; Peter Sunde; Aleksandër Trajçe; Igor Trbojević; Arie Trouwborst; Manuela von Arx; Diana Zlatanova; Luigi Boitani

The recovery of wolves ( Canis lupus ) across Europe is a notable conservation success in region with extensive human alteration landscapes and high population densities. We provide comprehensive update on wolf populations Europe, estimated at over 21,500 individuals by 2022, representing 58% increase the past decade. Despite challenges densities significant land use for agriculture, industry, urbanization, have demonstrated remarkable adaptability increasing trends most European countries. Improved monitoring techniques, although varying quality scope, played crucial role tracking this recovery. Annually, kill approximately 56,000 domestic animals EU, risk unevenly distributed differently handled regions. Damage compensation costs 17 million EUR every year to Positive economic impacts from presence, such as those related reducing traffic accidents wild ungulates or supporting wildlife tourism, remain under studied. Wolf supported diverse policy legal instruments LIFE programs, stakeholder platforms, well EU Habitats Directive Bern Convention. Coexisting newly established entails managing activities, including livestock depredation, competition game, fear attacks humans, amidst social political views Sustainable coexistence continues operate evolving complex social, economic, landscapes, often characterized intense debates regarding policies.