Status of large carnivore populations in Europe 2012-2016

In 2012 the conservation status of European large carnivores was assessed by a group of experts from each country where large carnivores are present. This information has been recently updated for 2012-16 (see the LCIE website for more information). Although the available data and the methodology used varied greatly from country to country, the information presented below represents the best available independent assessment of large carnivore status.

More information on the methodology for the 2012 update is available here:

Continental Europe (excluding Russia and Belarus) is home to 1,000-1,250 wolverines (600 to 800 in the EU), 8,000-9,000 Eurasian lynx (7,000 to 8,000 in the EU), 17,000 brown bears (15,000 to 16,000 in the EU) and 17,000 wolves (13,000 to 14,000 in the EU). The 32 populations comprise of between some tens of individuals up to several thousands, crossing several borders of up to five EU countries.

Brown bear – Ursus arctos

Bear map

Population name	Countries	Size (2012-2016)	Trend
Scandinavian	Norway, Sweden	2,825	Decreasing
Karelian	Norway, Finland	1,660	Stable
Baltic	Estonia, Latvia	700	Stable
Carpathian	Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Serbia	7,630	Stable
Dinaric-Pindos	Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", Albania, Serbia, Greece	3,950	Stable-Increasing
Alpine	Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia	49-69	Stable-Increasing
Eastern Balkan	Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia	468-665	Stable
Central Apennine	Italy	45-69	Stable
Cantabrian	Spain	321-335	Increase
Pyrenean	France, Spain	30	Stable

Wolf – Canis lupus

Wolf map

Population name	Countries	Size (2012-2016)	Trend
Scandinavian	Norway, Sweden	c. 430	Increase
Karelian	Finland	c. 200	Stable to increase
Baltic	Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland	1,700 - 2,240	Stable
Central European lowlands	Germany, Poland	780-1,030	Increase
Carpathian	Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Serbia	3,460-3,849	Stable
Dinaric-Balkan	Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", Albania, Serbia (incl. Kosovo*), Greece, Bulgaria	c. 4,000	Unknown
Alps	Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia	420-550	Increase
Italian peninsula	Italy	1,100-2,400	Slightly increasing
NW Iberian	Spain, Portugal	No recent update, but 2007 estimate was 2,500	Unknown
Sierra Morena	Spain	0	Extinct

Eurasian lynx – Lynx lynx

Lynx map

Population name	Countries	Size (2012-2016)	Trend
Scandinavian	Norway, Sweden	1,300-1,800	Decline
Karelian	Finland	2,500	Stable
Baltic	Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine	1,200-1,600	Slight Decrease
Bohemian-Bavarian-Austrian	Czech Republic, Germany, Austria	60-80	Stable
Carpathian	Romania, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria	2,100-2,400	Stable
Alpine	Switzerland, Slovenia, Italy, Austria, France	163	Slowly increasing
Jura	France, Switzerland	140	Slowly increasing
Vosges Palatinian	France, Germany	1-3	Decline
Dinaric	Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina	130	Stable or decrease
Harz mountains	Germany	46	Slowly increasing
Balkan	"the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", Albania, Serbia (incl. Kosovo*)	20-40	Stable

Wolverine – Gulo gulo

Wolverine map

Population name	Countries	Size (2012-2016)	Trend
Scandinavian	Norway, Sweden	800-1,000	Fluctuating, recently decreasing
Karelian	Finland	200-250	Slowly increasing

The population status of large carnivores for 2010-12 can be viewed here.