In the study, published in PLOS Sustainability and Transformation, researchers say the rebound is a direct result of conservation programs in heavily human-altered landscapes.
“This recovery indicates a large predator can successfully share territory with humans,” said co-author Dr. Jan Szymański of the University of Warsaw.
Wolves in the European Union (EU) live among millions of people and 279 million livestock animals, yet numbers have increased significantly since the species gained protected status.
Wolves now occupy nearly all European countries except the smallest principalities and islands, with over 1,000 wolves each in Bulgaria, Greece, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, and Spain. In other nations like Austria and Denmark, the predator only recently re-emerged after long absences.
As wolf numbers rise, concerns have surfaced over livestock predation and competition with hunters for game species. The study estimates that around 19,000 wolves in the EU kill roughly 56,000 livestock each year, primarily sheep and goats. Rare incidents of wolf aggression toward humans typically involve animals accustomed to human contact.
Benefits of a growing wolf population
Researchers highlight ecological upsides, including reduced herbivore-related damage to forests and fewer vehicle-wildlife collisions. Wolves also support ecotourism.
“Their comeback shows that top predators can thrive under proper political, legal, and societal conditions,” the authors conclude, pointing to successful coexistence models in regions such as India, where leopards inhabit the fringes of major cities.
(jh)
Source: PAP