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© Jan Noack / WWF Germany

In some areas of Europe, the grey wolf completely disappeared more than a century ago. But now it is gradually coming back. To keep the beauties of nature, we need to make sure they stay protected.

The wolf is currently protected under the EU Birds and Habitats Directive but major threats still exist. Join us to defend this beautiful animal and spread the word: the wolf is here to stay!

© Ralph Frank / WWF Germany

My common name: Grey Wolf

My latin name: Canis lupus

Population: About 12 000 in Europe and 200 000 worldwide

My address: Asia, Canada, North of the USA, Europe

My favourite food: I can eat a lot of meat at one meal and then go without food for a considerable time. 

My way of life: I am a social creature and live with my family. We call it a pack. We travel and hunt together. Some of us stay with the pack for life, some don’t.

Life span: I can live up to 13 years in a protected park but in the wild, life is tough and some of us often die at the age of 8.

We hear a lot about the wolf, but how much do we really know about this beautiful and rare animal?

 

Find out more

Many stories are being told about the wolves, but often negative ones. They tend to exacerbate our fears and highlight the tensions between us and them.

Read different sides of the story, from wolf and pastoralism to the demonisation of the wolf  and the testimonies of farmers and shepherds, who lived with the wolf.

Discover the beauty behind the wolf and the benefit of its return to Europe.
 

Learn more

Why did the wolf disappear from some European countries and why did it return?  Why are wolves often seen in a negative way? What is done to protect the livestock from wolf attacks?

All you always wanted to know about wolves.
 

Learn more
Photo Gallery
Wolf
The wolf is an ancestor of the domestic dog but instead of barking, it howls. The grey wolf has a number of subspecies, including the Arctic wolf, which vary in colour and size according to where they live. © Staffan Widstrand / WWF
After more than a century of absence, the grey wolf returned to Europe. Thank to legal protection, wolves are now about 12,000 individuals in Europe but hunting remains the most significant threat.
After more than a century of absence, the grey wolf returned to Europe. Thank to legal protection, wolves are now about 12,000 individuals in Europe but hunting remains the most significant threat. © Wild Wonders of Europe /Sergey Gorshkov / WWF
Wolf and the pups
Wolves are crucial for our environment. They help forests recover from deer grazing, helping trees to regenerate after dying or harvest. © Ralph Frank / WWF Germany
European Wolf
Once the world’s most widely distributed mammal, the grey wolf has been reduced by one-third.© Gunther Kopp / WWF Germany
Wolf pup
Persecution - poaching is a serious problem all over Europe that should be seriously tackled by the European, national and regional/local authorities with the support of all the relevant stakeholders. © Wild Wonders of Europe /Sergey Gorshkov / WWF
Clouds surrounding the Tre Cime di Lavaredo with wildflowers in the foreground, Sexten Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy, Europe, July 2009
The network of protected areas – Natura 2000 – covers all of Europe’s distinct regions, from the wild Atlantic Ocean to the soaring Alps and the Dolomites, seen here. © Wild Wonders of Europe / Frank Krahmer / WWF

What WWF is doing

WWF works to protect the habitats and ecosystems on which the wolf depends.