https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:4160 Continuing recovery of wolves in Europe Di Bernardi, Cecilia Cecilia Di Bernardi 0000-0002-1171-1516 Chapron, Guillaume Guillaume Chapron Kaczensky, Petra Petra Kaczensky 0000-0001-5428-1176 University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Álvares, Francisco Francisco Álvares Andrén, Henrik Henrik Andrén Balys, Vaidas Vaidas Balys Blanco, Juan Carlos Juan Carlos Blanco Chiriac, Silviu Silviu Chiriac Cirovic, Duško Duško Cirovic Drouet-Hoguet, Nolwenn Nolwenn Drouet-Hoguet Huber, Djuro Djuro Huber Iliopoulos, Yorgos Yorgos Iliopoulos Kojola, Ilpo Ilpo Kojola Krofel, Miha Miha Krofel Kutal, Miroslav Miroslav Kutal 0000-0003-3857-5419 Linnell, John D. C. John D. C. Linnell Aleksandra Aleksandra Majic Skrbinšek, Aleksandra Aleksandra Majic Skrbinšek 0000-0002-3013-008X Männil, Peep Peep Männil Marucco, Francesca Francesca Marucco 0000-0002-1390-6106 Melovski, Dime Dime Melovski Mengüllüoclu, Deniz Deniz Mengüllüoclu Mergeay, Joachim Joachim Mergeay Myscajek, Robert W. Robert W. Myscajek Nowak, Sabina Sabina Nowak Ozolinš, Janis Janis Ozolinš Ranc, Nathan Nathan Ranc Reinhardt, Ilka Ilka Reinhardt Rigg, Robin Robin Rigg Salvatori, Valeria Valeria Salvatori Schley, Laurent Laurent Schley Sunde, Peter Peter Sunde Trajçe, Aleksandër Aleksandër Trajçe 0000-0002-6815-7421 Trbojevic, Igor Igor Trbojevic Trouwborst, Arie Arie Trouwborst von Arx, Manuela Manuela von Arx Zlatanova, Diana Diana Zlatanova Boitani, Luigi Luigi Boitani Public Library of Science journal article open access eng 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. Large Carnivores Wolf Law Conservation Management Predators Return Lynx Bear http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/api/object/o:4160/download 10.1371/journal.pstr.0000158 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:605 application/pdf Plos Sustainability and Transformation issn:2767-3197 VoR Plos Sustainability and Transformation 4 1.56 MB 2025