A genetic study by Foundation Conservation Carpathia (FCC) has revealed that 47 wolves and one wolf-dog hybrid inhabit a 1,400 km² pilot area of the Southern Carpathians. The area forms part of an ambitious restoration project, supported by the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme, to create a wilderness reserve in the Făgăraș Mountains. Conducted between 2018 and 2020, the study also marks the first time hybridisation between wolves and domestic dogs has been genetically confirmed in Romania.
Understanding wolf populations and their ecological role
While Romania is estimated to host around 3,000 wolves, these figures are based on official reports rather than systematic scientific monitoring. The Carpathian Mountains remain one of Europe’s least studied mountain ecosystems, despite their importance for wildlife. The genetic study by Foundation Conservation Carpathia helps to fill this knowledge gap, offering a clearer picture of wolf presence, pack structure and dynamics in the Făgăraș region.
Wolves (Canis lupus) are apex predators that help regulate populations of herbivores such as red deer, wild boar and roe deer. By preying on vulnerable individuals, they maintain herd health and help reduce overgrazing, which supports natural forest regeneration. In doing so, they contribute to the balance of forest and grassland ecosystems. Their presence also influences the behaviour and distribution of prey species, helping to maintain vegetation structure and supporting wider biodiversity.
Non-invasive DNA monitoring
The team collected 503 non-invasive DNA samples, including urine, scat and hair, which were analysed in a Slovenian laboratory using 16 canid-specific genetic markers. These data were combined with extensive camera trap footage to estimate the number, density, and distribution of wolves in the study area.
“Through the techniques and methods of study that science provides, we can learn a wealth of data about a species as difficult to study as the wolf,” said Dr Ruben Iosif, coordinator of the wildlife monitoring department at Foundation Conservation Carpathia.
Challenges in the field
Fieldwork was conducted throughout the year, with systematic and intensive sampling from November to May when snow cover made wolf tracking possible. However, declining snow cover in recent years, linked to climate change, posed a significant challenge. Reduced snowfall limited the team’s ability to follow wolf tracks and collect samples, particularly at lower altitudes. Despite these constraints, the researchers were able to survey the entire 1,400 km² study area, spanning elevations from 600 to 2,400 metres.
Wolf numbers and density
Results identified 48 unique individuals: 27 males, 20 females and one wolf-dog hybrid. Most wolves belonged to six packs; seven wolves could not be assigned to a pack and may have been transients or individuals from nearby territories.
The estimated population density of 2.35 wolves per 100 km² is lower than reported in Yellowstone National Park (5–9.8 wolves per 100 km²) or the Apennines in Italy (4.7 wolves per 100 km²), but higher than in Scandinavia, where wolf numbers are recovering from genetic decline.
Hybridisation and threats
The study confirms the presence of a wolf-dog hybrid, the first official genetic confirmation in the Carpathians. Although currently rare in Romania, hybridisation with stray dogs could undermine wolf genetic integrity in the long term. Surveillance data revealed that around one in three wolf detections was accompanied by stray dogs.
To further investigate, researchers collected saliva samples from 21 dogs in the area alongside wolf DNA samples. “We can make decisions, create patterns of coexistence and signal when there are threats to both humans and wolves, such as the occurrence of hybridisation,” said Dr Iosif.
Management and coexistence
The study provides important data to guide science-based wildlife and conflict management. Shifts in pack composition and breeding pairs were observed over the three-year period, suggesting a dynamic and changing population. “The genetic study conducted by our team clarifies many unknowns about the wolf population in Romania,” said Dr Iosif. “It is important to monitor these wolves over time so that wildlife and conflict management is based on scientific data.”
This article is adapted from an article published on the Foundation Conservation Carpathia website. Read the full study here. To find out more about restoration in the Carpathian Mountains, visit their project page.
