The wolf population in Europe is rising, making wolf conservation a hot topic. With wolves returning to areas transformed by humans, encounters are becoming more frequent. But do wolves lose their natural fear of humans? A research team led by Dr. Dries Kuijper at the Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences in Białowieża, seeks answers to this question.
Despite growing numbers, wolves remain wary.
According to Dr. Kuijper, “Our experiments show that wolves are still very afraid of humans. As soon as they hear a human voice, they flee in over 80% of cases.”
This study challenges the popular belief that protection leads wolves to become bolder in human encounters.
The research, funded by the National Science Centre of Poland, is taking place in regions like the Tuchola Forest, where wolves have been in contact with people for over a decade. However, their reactions to simulated human presence remain unchanged, with the animals consistently avoiding humans. This finding may have implications for understanding wolf behavior in human-altered landscapes.
Kuijper also notes that a higher number of young wolves can lead to riskier behavior.
“Young wolves are like teenagers—they’re less experienced and take greater risks, sometimes finding themselves near human settlements,” he observes, recalling instances of young wolves appearing in cities.
Dr. Kuijper’s research not only expands our understanding of wolf behavior but also helps us grasp their role in ecosystems. The research team aims to complete the project by 2026, further elucidating how wolves function in human-dominated environments.
Recent debates at the European level are considering relaxing wolf protection measures. Will these changes impact future wolf behavior around humans? The answer remains to be seen.
Source – LINK
