Recovery of wildlife in Europe

DesertRhino150

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
A report commissioned by Rewilding Europe and carried out by Birdlife, the European Bird Census Council and ZSL has confirmed that numbers and ranges of many of Europe's 'key' mammal and bird species have increased.

Of 18 mammal and 19 bird species, only the Iberian lynx has not increased in abundance in the 1960s. Several of the big winners were European bison, Eurasian beaver, white-headed duck, barnacle goose and some populations of pink-footed goose, which have all seen increases of more than 3,000% in the last five decades. Brown bear numbers have doubled, and wolf populations have increased by 30%.

Some of the reasoning given for these increases include legal protection, hunting quotas and particularly abandonment of farmland.

The 18 mammal species surveyed were brown bear, grey wolf, golden jackal, Eurasian and Iberian lynx, common and grey seal, wolverine, European bison, moose, red and roe deer, Alpine and Iberian chamois, Northern and Southern chamois, wild boar and Eurasian beaver.
The 19 bird species surveyed were pink-footed and barnacle goose, whooper swan, white-headed duck, white stork, Eurasian spoonbill, Dalmatian pelican, lesser kestrel, saker and peregrine falcon, red kite, white-tailed, Spanish imperial and Eastern imperial eagle, griffon, bearded and cinereous vulture, common crane and roseate tern.

The BBC report can be found here:
BBC News - Europe's key animals 'making a comeback'

The actual study can be found here:
http://www.rewildingeurope.com/asse...overy-of-selected-mammal-and-bird-species.pdf

Also I have included a link to the Rewilding Europe website- as well as work with current European species they are working lots with rewilded horses and cattle and there are references to the reintroduction of kulan and saiga antelope.
Rewilding Europe - making Europe a wilder place with more space for wildlife, wilderness and natural processes.
 
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I would like to see a similar review done for small, migratory songbirds. They run such a huge gauntlet of trapping throught the mediteranean.As I understand many millions are trapped every year without thought to their conservation and despite protections from the various states.
 
A male brown bear was camera-trapped in the Polish side of the Bialowieza Forest in 2019; it is the first confirmed sighting there since 1963 (an unconfirmed sighting was made in 2010). In April 2020 a male bear (it is unknown if they were the same individual) was recorded on the Belarussian side of the Bialowieza Forest.

This paper looks both at the history of brown bears in Bialowieza and also examines the potential ecological and social impacts that may come from the species recolonising areas of the Polish lowlands:
A dispersing bear in Białowieża Forest raises important ecological and conservation management questions for the central European lowlands - ScienceDirect
 
It seems to be very encouraging news when it comes to mammals in Europe!

Shame about the Iberian lynx, however, I know there are conservationists working hard to keep that species in the wild and to increase their numbers.
 
In order to provide a better idea of why some species are faring better than others in Europe, a new report about wildlife comeback in Europe is being produced by Rewilding Europe, ZSL, Birdlife International and the European Bird Census Council. It is expected that the new report will be released in spring 2022.

While 37 species were analysed in the older report, this one will include a total of around 50 species - some new species in the upcoming report will include Eurasian otter, humpback whale, ringed seal and several species of bats.

Information about the upcoming new report is included below:
New European wildlife comeback study kicks off | Rewilding Europe
 
Iberian Lynx has much improved in recent years - in late 2020 there were an estimated 894 in the wild: Iberian lynx population reaches historic high of almost 900 across southern Spain and Portugal - Olive Press News Spain

I agree it is certainly improving but it is still one of the most critically endangered mammal species.

Moreover, I think El lince represents a very strategically important species for Europe in terms of its symbolism.

If this felid is effectively conserved and brought back from the brink it is a clear demonstration to the rest of the world that Europe practices what it preaches in conservation terms.
 
As the recent drop is entirely linked to the avian influenza outbreak of this year, we must see what will happen next year (degree of resilience of these populations) before drawing any conclusion.
Obviously the efforts led in South-Eastern Europe to provide secured places for these birds have to be maintained.
It reminds me the effects of such outbreaks on Asian waterfowl in the mid-2000's, when similar concerns were expressed.
 
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An updated new report on the recovery of wildlife in Europe was published by Rewilding Europe today.

As well as the 18 mammal species included in the original report, six new mammal species have also been examined:
Eurasian otter
Pine marten
European badger
Ringed seal
Humpback whale
Geoffroy's bat

As well as the 19 bird species from the original report, six new bird species have also been examined:
Black stork
Eurasian bittern
Great white egret
Black-winged stilt
Audouin's gull
Osprey

Also a single species of reptile, the loggerhead sea turtle, is included in the report.

The full report can be found here:
Rewilding Europe
 
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