European grey wolf populations are recovering naturally from near-extinction, but the return of apex predators creates conflicts that have major welfare implications for both wolves and livestock.
The welfare calculus of wolf recovery involves multiple parties: the wolves themselves, their prey populations, and livestock. Individual wolves killed in retaliatory or legal culls experience the welfare harm of violent death; livestock attacked by wolves suffer acute trauma; prey animals in areas with effective predator pressure may actually have lower net welfare impact per individual from the 'landscape of fear' effect that keeps herds alert and in better condition. The most important welfare intervention is robust livestock protection that prevents predation events — protecting both livestock welfare and the political viability of wolf recovery.