The wolf is back! Alarm in Alpine regions of Austria!

The wolf is back! Alarm in Alpine regions of Austria!

The wolf is back in Austria and is causing increasing tensions in agriculture. The wolf population in Europe has been growing steadily since the 2000s and now reaches an estimated number of 21,500 animals. This is accompanied by annual growth rates of up to 30 percent, as exxpress.at reports. However, the return of these animals also brings challenges, especially for local farmers' grazing animals.

In 2024, 340 grazing animals were killed by wolves, and by August 2025, a further 224 tears were documented. Of these, 216 were sheep. These numbers highlight the increasing conflicts between wolves and rural populations that rely on agriculture. Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) is therefore calling for urgent measures based on a new study by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU).

Study and recommendations for action

The comprehensive study, which cost 63,000 euros, analyzed the habitats and conflict zones in Austria. Experts identified that the highest risk of conflict exists in regions with intensive alpine farming in the west of the country. In principle, active wolf management is necessary in order to reconcile both the wolves and the concerns of farmers. Totschnig emphasizes the need for functioning wolf management based on the results of the study.

In the study “Project habitat and conflict potential model for the wolf (Canis lupus) in Austria”, led by Dr. Jennifer Hatlauf, two maps have been created. One shows potential wolf pack locations, the other the conflict zones. These maps serve as an important basis for future monitoring and management of the wolf population in Austria. Hatlauf also hopes for a constructive discourse based on scientific principles.

International cooperation and legal changes

The European Union has also responded to the growing wolf population and Austria has secured significant legislative changes at international and EU levels to ensure sustainable wolf management. Deputy State Governor Josef Geisler is calling for a supra-regional approach to wolf management in order to optimally deal with the changed situation. Further research and international cooperation are considered necessary in order to overcome the challenges posed by the return of wolves in the long term.

The results of the study confirm the urgency of measures and the need for active monitoring in order to maintain the balance between the protection of animal species and the interests of agriculture.