Wolf (Canis lupus)

Wolf

UK History

The last wolf is reputed to have been shot in Inverness-shire in 1743 following centuries of persecution. A few thousand years ago as many as 6,500 could have inhabited mainland Britain.

The wolf was universally despised, believed to be in league with the devil and seen as a mortal threat to people, livestock and game.

UK Status

Extinct in the wild

Global Status

The wolf is found across most of the northern hemisphere, adapting to a wide range of habitats wherever there is a sufficient prey such as deer. Current estimates suggest that Europe (excluding Russia) supports around 15,000 wolves with the largest populations in Spain, Italy and Romania; Russia 30 - 40,000; Canada 55,000 and the USA 11,000 (mostly in Alaska).

The IUCN (World Conservation Union) list the wolf as Vulnerable, ie a species exposed to becoming in danger of extinction. According to the EU Habitats Directive wolf habitat needs conservation in all European Union states.

Biology

Wolves live in packs (average 4 - 8) comprising an alpha (breeding) pair, youngsters and non-breeding adults. They are sexually mature at 22 months but generally only the alpha male and female breed. Breeding usually takes place between late January to early March. 4 -8 pups are born after a gestation period of 63 days. Wolves are known to live up to 13 years in the wild, although 5-7 years in more typical. On average, one wolf eats the equivalent of 15 - 20 adult-sized deer per year.

Issues with humans

As with all large predators, predation on livestock and perceived competition for hunting quarry are the main areas of conflict across the wolf's range. Although there are sporadic cases of wolves attacking humans, this is extremely rare and can normally be traced to injured or rabied animals.

There have been only 17 fatalities in the last 50 years in the whole of Europe, Russia and North America - a population of 1,000,000,000 people.

In Spain, where sheep roam the mountain region largely unshepherded (like the Scottish Highlands) wolf depredation is ten times higher than in the lowlands, where sheep are traditionally guarded by day by shepherds and enclosed at night.

Future Outlook

Wolves were historically exterminated throughout western Europe, except for a few hundred in Spain and Italy but now that they have better legal protection they are re-establishing themselves. Presently, a few wolves are recolonising France, Germany, Portugal and Switzerland.

In the 1980's and 1990's the British Government signed conventions agreeing to consider reintroducing wolves and to promote public awareness about them. Based on available habitat and prey it is estimated that the Scottish Highlands could support a population of 250 wolves.

In the last two decades the wolf has made a remarkable recovery in the United States and in some European nations. The comeback has been brought about largely by active conservation efforts, better management policies and heightened public concern. Wolf reintroductions in Yellowstone National Park, central Idaho and Arizona are serving as models for other nations. However, wolf prospects are less promising in parts of the world where superstition, prejudice and ignorance still place the wolf on the most wanted list.

Understanding how we can live with a fellow top-predator, instead of exterminating it remains a major challenge.

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