After centuries of persecution that drove wolf (Canis lupus) populations to the brink of extinction in most European countries (1), conservation measures and land use changes have allowed the species to slowly begin to recover (2). However, on June 5, the Council of Europe approved the decision of the European Commission (EC) to downgrade the legal status of wolves in the Habitats Directive from strictly protected to protected (3). Wolves classified as strictly protected could only be eliminated by derogation and on an individual basis, while wolves benefiting from protected status could be eliminated following culling plans, which jeopardizes the recovery of the population (4). Given the gaps in knowledge about wolf populations and the continuing threats to the species in Europe, wolves should remain strictly protected.
