Grey wolves have recolonised large parts of Western Europe from remnant Italian populations, creating livestock conflicts and welfare challenges from illegal killing.
Illegally killed wolves experience shooting, poisoning or snare death — all causing acute or prolonged welfare harm. Wolves that survive injury from illegal trapping may be unable to hunt effectively and die slowly from starvation. Livestock conflicts that drive illegal killing are preventable through adequate livestock protection measures, but compensation schemes and prevention measures are inconsistently available. Legal protection under the Habitats Directive is strong but enforcement is uneven.