Wild Mammals Are Making A Huge Comeback In Europe

May 25, 2022

In the first half of the 20th century, many wild mammals in Europe were on the verge of extinction.

Now, most are flourishing again.

mammals rebound in Europe

Millennia of hunting, exploitation, and habitat loss caused a severe population decline in bison, elk, bears and many more.

But thanks to conservation efforts, most mammal populations have seen a dramatic increase over the last 50 years.

In 2013, a coalition of conservation organizations – including the Zoological Society of London; Birdlife International; and Rewilding Europe – published a report on how mammal populations across Europe had changed since 1960. They looked at the change in populations of 18 mammal species.

The results are shown in the chart below.

mammals recover Europe
ourworldindata.org

There are more than 30 times the number of European bisons alive today than there were in 1960.

There are more than twice as many Brown bears. Three times as many Eurasian elks. Five times as many Red deer.

The Eurasian beaver has made the most remarkable recovery. It's estimated to have increased by 140-fold since 1960.

How did Europe achieve this impressive recovery of mammal populations?

Effective protection against hunting, overexploitation, and the destruction of habitats. This includes bans on hunting or hunting quotas along with region-wide protection schemes.

Agricultural land use has also declined across Europe over the last 50 years. This allowed natural habitats to return where agriculture had previously taken them over.

Sources: Our World in Data


Click Here For The Most Popular On Sunny Skyz

feel good videoCouple Rescues Prairie Dog From Their Dog's Mouth, Then Decides To Adopt It

feel good storiesMy Girlfriend Gifted Me My Father’s Handwriting To Keep Forever

feel good storiesWe Can’t Stop Looking At These Adorable Baby Loon Photos Taken On A Lake

feel good storiesThis Couple Built A Grass Patch For Their Cat, And She’s Obsessed With It

feel good storiesThis All-Black ‘Goth House’ In Indiana Is Going Viral. Wait Until You See The Inside

feel good storiesMeet Igor: The Fluffy Poltergeist Dog With The Most Unhinged Adoption Bio Ever

feel good videoBaby Elephant’s Trunk Steals The Show In Adorable Treat Time Video

feel good videoWhat Happens When A Man With A Hose Meets A Group of Kids? Pure Magic

feel good videoChicken Or Pigeon? The Internet Can’t Believe This Bird Is Real

feel good videoMom Surprises 4-Year-Old Son With First Apartment After 14 Months In Homeless Shelter

feel good videoBear Vs. Sprinkler: Hilarious Garden Moment Caught On Camera

Chris Filippou 12:17 PM (3 minutes ago) to me