Europeans support large carnivore recovery while opposing both further population growth and hunting

After centuries of persecution in Europe, large carnivores are now
recovering. Whether this conservation success continues likely depends on
public support. Here, we show using a survey of ten thousand respondents
across European Union Member States that, while support for the recovery
of wolves, bears, and lynx remains strong, most respondents oppose both
further population growth and hunting—particularly of wolves. Attitudes
are remarkably consistent across rural and urban populations, and many
respondents express no strong position, suggesting that large carnivores
are less polarizing than often portrayed. The recent amendment to the
Habitats Directive, which grants Member States greater flexibility to
manage their wolf populations, appears broadly aligned with public
opinion, as long as its implementation does not lead to population
declines. However, the presence of views in tension—rejecting both
population growth and hunting— may pose challenges for designing policies
that are both science-based and democratic.