Europe’s wolf population on the rise

Despite a worldwide decline in carnivores, wolf populations in Europe have increased almost 60%. In a study published in PLOS Sustainability and Transformation, researchers collected data on wolf (Canis lupus) numbers in 34 European countries. They found wolf numbers on the continent went up from 12,000 in 2012 to 12,500 a decade later. In addition, the researchers found that on average wolves killed 0.02% of livestock each year. The authors said that while the wolves’ rapid recovery is impressive, the challenge will now be helping humans and wildlife coexist in the long term. “The recovery of wolves across human-dominated landscapes of Europe has been continuing during the past decade, with their population growing to over 21,500 individuals by 2022—a 58% increase in a decade,” the authors wrote. “Ongoing and future challenges include damages directly caused by wolves and broader sociopolitical issues.”

Read the study in PLOS Sustainability and Transformation.