Europe | International Wolf Center
Wolves once existed throughout much of Europe. Conflicts with humans and fears originating from religious beliefs, myths and folklore influenced human attitudes towards wolves and, as a result, wolves have been persecuted for hundreds of years. Currently, wolves are found in many European countries.
Wolves of the World | International Wolf Center
Currently, wild wolf populations representing two distinct species of wolf are found in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa – the gray wolf (Canis lupus), and the red wolf (Canis rufus). Explore this section for details on wolf populations around the world.
In Europe, the wolf is back. Not everyone is happy about it
Jul 22, 2024 · The gray wolf (Canis lupus) population in the European Union has rebounded to around 20,300 individuals across 23-24 countries as of 2023. This was not always the case. Gray wolves were threatened, and extinct from western and central Europe before the species was protected under the Bern Convention in the 1970s.
Germany - International Wolf Center
Wolf range is minimal in Germany and generally confined to the east. They returned to Germany in about the year 2000. The website nabu.de wrote this summary of the wolf in Germany: Wolves have been living in Germany’s wilderness for over 15 years.
Wolves in Europe: Commission urges local authorities to make full …
Sep 4, 2023 · From European Commission: The return of the wolf to EU regions where it has been absent for a long time is increasingly leading to conflicts with local farming and hunting communities, especially where measures to prevent attacks …
Wolf protection in Europe has become deeply political – Spain’s ...
Oct 16, 2023 · Wolves are staging a comeback in many areas of Europe after centuries of persecution. Over the past decade alone, they have expanded their range on the continent by more than 25%. This resurgence was brought into sharp focus in September 2023 following a controversial statement by Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission.
High survival rates explain 20 years of rapid expansion of wolves in ...
Oct 31, 2024 · Since wolves returned to Germany 20 years ago, they have spread quickly in many parts of the country. The rapid increase in the number of wolves was due to high survival and reproduction rates in areas with favourable environmental conditions.
Wolf crackdown in Switzerland: a sign of what’s to come in Europe?
Jan 5, 2024 · The Swiss government’s plan for a preventative cull of wolves has been partially put on ice after a legal appeal. But Bern’s approach could yet be a sign of what’s to come elsewhere in Europe. Click here for the full story.
Netherlands | International Wolf Center
Since 2019, the country has once again become home to its first pack of wolves with young pups after 150 years. Genetic sampling revealed the Netherlands wolves came from an Alpine population and Central European populations (i.e. Germany).
Wolf hunting becomes sharp political issue in Europe
Apr 8, 2024 · Wolf populations have almost doubled in Europe over the past decade. While their number was estimated at 11,000 in 2012, a recent count puts that figure north of 20,000. Vivian Loonela, head of the Estonian Representation of the European Commission, described it as a success story of EU conservation efforts.