Six out of ten wolves that die in Europe are victims of hunting.
A study by the Doñana Biological Station and the CSIC reveals "the great persecution" suffered by the species.
Barcelona74% of gray wolves (Canis lupus) who lose their lives in the northern hemisphere of the world die due to human activity. This is the main conclusion of a scientific study led by the Doñana Biological Station (EBD) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and published this Thursday in the journal Mammal Review. The work highlights "the extensive persecution" suffered by the species and the risk posed by coexisting with humans.
The research, in which the University of León and the University of Oviedo also participated, compiles information from 140 scientific studies carried out throughout the northern hemisphere. This data has revealed that in Europe, roadkill causes the death of these large carnivores "to a certain extent"; while, in contrast, six out of ten gray wolves that die on the European continent do so as a direct consequence of illegal hunting.
In a statement, Ana Morales González, a postdoctoral researcher at the Doñana Biological Station and first author, also argues how the study allows for the establishment of a global reference framework and a set of standardized data that will help improve both research and conservation policies for gray wolves. "Our study redefines previous debates about wolf mortality and provides a solid basis for making management and conservation decisions based on scientific evidence," the researcher insists.
Worse in Europe than in America
Another fact revealed by the EBD research is that gray wolf mortality due to human activity is more severe in Europe (86% of cases) than in North America, where the proportion of wolves that have lost their lives due to humans is 66%.
Furthermore, it has also been determined that wolves that leave their natal group to form a new one—which are usually the youngest—are the most exposed to mortality, since they must cross unknown territories that may have a strong human presence.
Faced with this situation, the researcher from the Doñana Biological Station insists on the need "not to relax, but to strengthen" wolf protection measures in Europe and North America, including the Iberian Peninsula. "The total mortality suffered by the species is excessive, and we must not forget that it is a key species in ecosystems," concludes Morales González.
