Can the Wolf (Canis lupus) Thrive in Highly Anthropised Lowlands? First Habitat Suitability Analysis of the Po Plain, Italy.

ABSTRACT: Coexisting with large carnivores in human-dominated European landscapes is a highly relevant and current challenge. Over the last two centuries, the wolf (Canis lupus) population in Europe has experienced a significant decline, primarily due to direct human persecution. However, recent conservation policies, combined with the species' remarkable ecological flexibility, have enabled a rapid recovery. This process, which now also extends to densely populated areas, is exemplified by the ongoing expansion across the Po Plain, one of Europe's most heavily human-dominated landscapes. Our study aims to provide the first assessment of habitat suitability for wolf presence in the Po Plain. Using a ten-year dataset of wolf occurrences (2015-2024), we evaluated the influence of several enviro

SUBMITTER: Fardone L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11851539 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature