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Long-distance dispersal connects Dinaric-Balkan and Alpine grey wolf (Canis lupus) populations

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Abstract

In the last two centuries, persecution and deforestation caused grey wolf Canis lupus populations in Europe to decline. Recently, their numbers started to recover although most populations still remain isolated from one another. This study presents the first documented evidence of the successful reconnection of the Dinaric-Balkan and the Alpine wolf populations via long-distance dispersal and subsequent reproduction. A young male wolf radiocollared in the Dinaric Mountains in July 2011 travelled through Slovenia and Austria to the Italian Alps, where he settled in March 2012. During the 98 days of dispersal period, the wolf has travelled a cumulative line distance of 1176 km crossing multiple anthropogenic and natural barriers, and successfully hunting wild prey until he settled 233 km straight line distance from its natal territory. Camera trapping, snow tracking and genetic evidence in the new territory confirmed pairing with a female wolf from the neighbouring Alpine population. In the following year, the pair has produced a first documented “mixed” litter between wolves from the Dinaric-Balkan and the Alpine wolf populations. This case study demonstrates the potential for the future merging of European wolf populations even in human-dominated landscapes and highlights the importance of transboundary cooperation in wolf research and management.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Calderola S, Ferrais D, Geiler T, Gerstrasser L, Gutleb B, Kranz A, Liberali S, Marucco F, Muralt G, Novšak Š, Parricelli P, Signori L, and Valbusa F for their contribution at the field, to Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (I.S.P.R.A.; Italy), Carnivore Genetics Laboratory (Forest Service of Missoula—Montana, USA) and ULBF (Group for Animal Ecology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia) for the genetic analysis. We also thank anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on the manuscript. This study was funded by LIFE08 NAT/SLO/000244 SloWolf.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Nina Ražen, Franci Kljun, Ivan Kos, Miha Krofel, Roman Luštrik, Aleksandra Majić & Hubert Potočnik

  2. Associazione Cacciatori Trentini, Via Guardini 41, 38121, Trento, Italy

    Alessandro Brugnoli

  3. Parco Naturale Regionale della Lessinia, Piazza Borgo 52, 37021, Bosco Chiesanuova, Italy

    Chiara Castagna

  4. Provincia Autonoma di Trento, Via Trener 3, 38100, Trento, Italy

    Claudio Groff

  5. Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria

    Petra Kaczensky, Felix Knauer & Georg Rauer

  6. Ufficio Caccia e Pesca, Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano, Via Brennero 6, 39100, Bolzano, Italy

    Davide Righetti

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  1. Nina Ražen
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  2. Alessandro Brugnoli
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hubert Potočnik.

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Ethical approval

All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. All capture and handling methods were approved by the Slovenian Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning (Permit no. 35601-145/2007-6).

Conflict of interests

The authors declare they have no competing interests.

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Ražen, N., Brugnoli, A., Castagna, C. et al. Long-distance dispersal connects Dinaric-Balkan and Alpine grey wolf (Canis lupus) populations. Eur J Wildl Res 62, 137–142 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-015-0971-z

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