Current Situation of Wolves in Europe - from a Scientific Perspective

Current situation of wolves in Europe - from a scientific perspective

FT1 („Sunny“) Foto: S. Koerner

Ilka Reinhardt LUPUS German Institute for Wolf monitoring and research Wolves in Europe – status and distribution

Distribution of wolves in Europe at their lowest extend during the 1950–1970s.

Guillaume Chapron et al. (2014): Recovery of large carnivores in Europes´s modern human-dominated landscapes. Science 346, 1517 Wolves in Europe – status and distribution

Wolf distribution in Europe around 2010. Dark blue cells indicate areas of permanent occurrence, and light blue cells indicate areas of sporadic occurrence. Orange lines indicate boundaries between todays populations.

Guillaume Chapron et al. (2014): Recovery of large carnivores in Europes´s modern human-dominated landscapes. Science 346, 1517 Wolves in Europe – status and distribution

Wolf populations (Kaczensky et al. 2013):

1 – Scandinavian 2 – Karelian 3 – Baltic 4 – Central European Lowland 5 – Carpathian 6 – Balkan 7 – Italian Peninsula 8 – Alpine 9 – Sierra Morena 10 – Iberian

Guillaume Chapron et al. (2014): Recovery of large carnivores in Europes´s modern human-dominated landscapes. Science 346, 1517 Wolves in Europe – status and distribution

Status of wolf populations (Kaczensky et al. 2013):

1 – Scandinavian endangered (EN) 2 – Karelian endangered (EN) 3 – Baltic least concern (LC) 4 – Central European Lowland endangered (EN) 5 – Carpathian least concern (LC) 6 – Dinaric-Balkan least concern (LC) 7 – Italian Peninsula vulnerable (VU) 8 – Alpine endangered (EN) 9 – Sierra Morena critically endangered (CR) 10 – Iberian least concern (LC)

Guillaume Chapron et al. (2014): Recovery of large carnivores in Europes´s modern human-dominated landscapes. Science 346, 1517 Wolves in Europe – status and distribution

Habitats directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC)

1 – Scandinavian endangered (EN) 2 – Karelian endangered (EN) 3 – Baltic least concern (LC) V 4 – Central European Lowland endangered (EN) IV 5 – Carpathian least concern (LC) 6 – Dinaric-Balkan least concern (LC) 7 – Italian Peninsula vulnerable (VU) IV 8 – Alpine endangered (EN) V 9 – Sierra Morena critically endangered (CR) V 10 – Iberian least concern (LC) V V IV

V IV IV IV IV V V Guillaume Chapron et al. (2014): IV IV Recovery of large carnivores in Europes´s modern IV V human-dominated landscapes. IV Science 346, 1517 Wolves in Europe – status and distribution

Habitats directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC)

1 – Scandinavian endangered (EN) 2 – Karelian endangered (EN) 3 – Baltic least concern (LC) V 4 – Central European Lowland endangered (EN) IV 5 – Carpathian least concern (LC) 6 – Dinaric-Balkan least concern (LC) 7 – Italian Peninsula vulnerable (VU) 8 – Alpine endangered (EN) IV 9 – Sierra Morena critically endangered (CR) 10 – Iberian least concern (LC)

IV V Guillaume Chapron et al. (2014): IV IV Recovery of large carnivores in Europes´s modern IV V human-dominated landscapes. IV Science 346, 1517 Wolves in Europe – status and distribution

Habitats directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC)

1 – Scandinavian endangered (EN), IV 2 – Karelian endangered (EN), IV, V 3 – Baltic least concern (LC), V V 4 – Central European Lowland endangered (EN), IV IV 5 – Carpathian least concern (LC), V 6 – Dinaric-Balkan least concern (LC), IV, V 7 – Italian Peninsula vulnerable (VU), IV IV 8 – Alpine endangered (EN), IV V 9 – Sierra Morena critically endangered (CR), IV V 10 – Iberian least concern (LC), IV, V V V IV

Habitats directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC)

Annex IV (strictly protected species) - Derogation for letal removal possible (Art. 16 Directive) V e.g. Sweden, France, Slovenia IV Annex V (Species of community interest whose taking in the wild and exploitation may be subject to management measures) IV V - hunting possible V e.g. baltic countries, but not mandantory : V e.g. Poland V IV Habitats directive sets the legal frame, V the member states decide how to fill this frame. IV Discussion with the whole society needed! IV IV IV V V Guillaume Chapron et al. (2014): IV IV V Recovery of large carnivores in Europes´s modern IV human-dominated landscapes. IV Science 346, 1517 Wolves in Europe – status and distribution

Since the habitats directive came into force 3 new wolf populations were founded in Europe.

 Scandinavian population (source: Karelian population)

 Central European population (source: Baltic population)

 Alpine population: (source: Italian & Dinaric population)

Guillaume Chapron et al. (2014): Recovery of large carnivores in Europes´s modern human-dominated landscapes. Science 346, 1517 Wolves in Europe – status and distribution

49 packs (2014) 22 packs (2013)

870 - 1400 individuals

~ 60 packs (2014)

3000 individuals

3900 individuals

~ 40 packs (2014)

600-800 individuals

2500 individuals (no recent census)

1 pack Guillaume Chapron et al. (2014): Recovery of large carnivores in Europes´s modern human-dominated landscapes. Science 346, 1517 Wolves in Europe – status and distribution

Alps Scandinavia

WAG (2014): Wolf population status in the Alps.

http://www.viltskadecenter.se/images/stories/Publikationer/ inventering-av-varg-i-skand-201415-svensknorsk-15juni-webb.pdf 45 40 35 Germany 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

How are such population increases possible?

Wolves are very adaptable and able to live in nearly all kind of habitat (habitat generalists), even in cultivated and heavily populated landscapes. Wolves in Europe – from a scientific perspective Habitat use of wolves in Europe - forest cover in wolf areas of occurrence

Kaartinen et al. (2005): 80%

Landkreis Cuxhaven: 7.7% Jedrzejewski et al. (2004): 50%

Reinhardt & Kluth (2015, 2016): 36-46%

Jedrzejewski et al. (2005): 62%

Blanco et al. (2005): 7 – 27 % Rendezvous site of the Spremberg pack (Saxony/Germany) 2012

How are such population increases possible?

Wolves are very adaptable and able to live in nearly all kind of habitat (habitat generalists), even in cultivated and heavily populated landscapes.

Wolves can disperse long distances and (re)occupy areas far away from the source population. Wolves in Europe – from a scientific perspective Excamples for long distance dispersal of wolves in Europe streight line (travel) dispersal distances Petter Wabakken et al. (2007): 1 100 (10 000) km Multistage long-range natal dispersal by a global positioning system-collared Skandinavian wolf. J. Wildlf. Managem.

Reinhardt & Kluth (2016): 800 (1 550) km Abwanderungs- und Raumnutzungs- verhalten von Wölfen in Deutschland. Natur und Landschaft.

Wesley Andersen et al. (2015): 730 km Long-distance dispersal of a wolf in North-Western Europe. Mamm. Reserach. Nina Razen et al. (2015): 233 (1 173) km Long-distance dispersal connects Dinaric- Balkan and Alpine grey wolf populations. Eur. J. Wildl. Res.

Paolo Ciucci et al. (2009): 240 (1 000) km Long distance dispersal of a rescued wolf from the Northern Appenines to the Alps. J. Wildlf. Managem. Wolves in Europe – from a scientific perspective

Dispersal distanz 800km, travel distance >1500 km MT3 „Alan“

How are such population increases possible?

Wolves are very adaptable and able to live in nearly all kind of habitat (habitat generalists), even in cultivated and heavily populated landscapes.

Wolves can disperse long distances and (re)occupy areas far away from the source population. The availability of wild ungulates is much higher than it was in the 19th century. Wolves in Europe – from a scientific perspective

 LUPUS Wolves in Europe – from a scientific perspective

1400000 1200000 1000000 800000 1936* 600000 1990 / 1991 400000 2012 / 2013 200000 0 wild boar roe deer red deer Development of the harvest statistics of wild ungulates in Germany.

Variability of wolf diet across Europe Müller (2006)

Jedrzejewski et al. (2012)

Nowak et al. (2011)

Wagner et al. (2012)

Kindervater et al. (2014) Wolves in Europe – from a scientific perspective Variability of wolf diet across Europe northern / central Europe: > 90% wild ungulates

Meriggi et al. (2011) review of 20 studies

Barja (2009)

Torres et al. (2015) Wolves in Europe – from a scientific perspective Wolf diet and ungulate abundance in Italy

1976 2004

Merriggi et al. 2011: Review of 20 wolf diet studies in Italy Wolves in Europe – from a scientific perspective Wolf diet and ungulate abundance in Italy

Merriggi et al. 2011: Review of 20 wolf diet studies in Italy Wolves in Europe – from a scientific perspective

Different perception of the wolf in areas where the species was always present vs. areas where the wolf returned to only recently. Wolves in Europe – from a scientific perspective

Where wolves were never eradicated - wolves are regarded as something normal you have to deal with.

Where wolves re-colonized recently they provoke high emotions. Wolves in Europe – from a scientific perspective

Where wolves were never eradicated - tradition of livestock protection still alive.

- Livestock protection measures are mostly funded within the frame of (LIFE+) projects. Wolves in Europe – from a scientific perspective

Where wolves re-colonized recently - livestock protection measures were given up.

- Most states fund livestock protection measures. - Costs for livestock protection >> damage compensation. - The knowledge of effective protection measures for small livestock is available. - Yet the acceptance for applying protection measures rises only slowly.

How are such population increases possible?

Wolves are very adaptable and able to live in nearly all kind of habitat (habitat generalists), even in cultivated and heavily populated landscapes.

Wolves can disperse long distances and (re)occupy areas far away from the source population. The availability of wild ungulates is much higher than it was in the 19th century. A well designed wildlife management is able to reduce conflicts between large carnivores and human interests. Wolves in Europe – from a scientific perspective

A well designed wildlife management is able to reduce conflicts between large carnivores and human interests to some extent. Wolves in Europe – from a scientific perspective

Wolf management may provide solutions to reduce real conflicts. Science can provide data and facts – improve the knowledge base. But what about the perceived conflicts?

Science and solution oriented management is important, but not enough. Dialog and exchange of expierence is as important.

Barja (2009): Prey and prey-age preference by the Iberian wolf in a multiple prey system. Wildl. Biol. (15).

Blanco et al. (2005): Wolf response to two kinds of barriers in an agricultural habitat in Spain. Can. J. Zool. 83

Chapron, G. et al. (2014): Recovery of large carnivores in Europes´s modern human-dominated landscapes. Science 346 Ciucci, P. et al. (2009): Long distance dispersal of a rescued wolf from the Northern Appenines to the Alps. J. Wildlf. Managem. http://www.viltskadecenter.se/images/stories/Publikationer/ inventering-av-varg-i-skand-201415-svensknorsk-15juni- webb.pdf

Jedrzejewski et al. (2004): Habitat variables associated with wolf (Canis lupus) distribution and abundance in northern Poland. Diversity and Distribution 10.

Jedrzejewski et al. (2005): Habitat selection by wolves Canis lupus in the uplands and mountains of southern Poland. Acta Theriologica 50(3).

Jedrzejewski et al. (2012): Prey choice and diet of wolves related to ungulate communities and wolf subpopulations in Poland. J. Mamm. 93 (6).

Kaartinen et al. (2005): Finnish wolves avoid roads and settlements. Ann. Zool. Fennici. 42

Müller, S. (2006): Diet composition of wolves on the Scandinavian Peninsula determined by scat analyses. Diplom Th.

Kindervater et al. (2014): Nahrungsökologische Untersuchungen am Wolf in Sachsen-Anhalt. Meriggi et al. (2011): Change of wolf diet in Italy in relation to increasing wild ungulates abundance. Ethology, Ecology and Evolution. 23 (3).

Nowak et al. (2011): Diet and prey selection of wolves recolonizing Western and Central Poland. Mamm. Biol.

Razen N. et al. (2015): Long-distance dispersal connects Dinaric-Balkan and Alpine grey wolf populations. Eur. J. Wildl. Res.

Reinhardt & Kluth (2016): Abwanderungs- und Raumnutzungsverhalten von Wölfen in Deutschland. Natur und Landschaft (6).

Torres et al. (2015): To eat or nor to eat? The diet of the endangered Iberian wolf in a human-dominated landscape in Central Portugal. PLOS one.

Wagner et al. (2012): Wolf feeding habits during ity first eight years of occurrence in Germany. Mammal. Biol.

Wesley Andersen et al. (2015): Long-distance dispersal of a wolf in North-Western Europe. Mamm. Research.

Wabakken, P. et al. (2007): Multistage long-range natal dispersal by a global positioning system-collared Skandinavian wolf. J. Wildlf. Managem.