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France at a glance
The natural wolf recovery in France followed the progressive expansion of Italian wolves in the last thirty years which began in the Apennine chain. After the first confirmation of the presence of two animals in Mercantour (south-east France) and a wolf killed in Les Hautes-Alpes in 1992, the colonization process then progressed northwards along the French Alpine chain towards the north.
Yearly monitoring is carried out by a network of specially organized and trained wolf-lynx correspondents. Molecular studies have also contributed to reconstructing the dispersal process of wolves and the establishment of packs in France.
Main prey for wolves here are ungulates and livestock.
The wolf population in France is growing, according to this story.
Species Information
Species
Common Names: gray wolf, loup (French)
Latin Name: Canis lupus
Subspecies
Common Name: loup
Latin Name: Canis lupus lupus
Current Wolf Population, Trend, Status
Number of wolves: Estimated at 530
Population trend: Increasing
Legal protection: Full protection (no exceptions), but some illegal killing and/or harassment due to livestock depredation occurs
French National Action Plan 2018-23 for wolves
This page was last updated in 2020.
Wolf range in France, 2008-2012 National Wolf Action Plan
More Information
Press coverage on the return of the wolf to France
- France’s wolves are back. Now, can it protect its farmers?
- France to let wolf population grow by 40 percent despite anger from farmers
- Why wolves are back in France
- Wolf plan France: A critical analysis
- Harmless or vicious hunter? The uneasy return of Europe’s wolves
- Are we crying wolf? A European tale of farmers vs. nature