Continuing recovery of wolves in Europe

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