LIFE WILD WOLF partners in Croatia have launched a new DNA sampling campaign in Dalmatia to monitor wolf populations and assess the presence of wolf–dog hybrids, contributing to the long-term conservation of wolves in the region.
At the beginning of October 2026, teams from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FVM) and the Croatian Hunting Association (HLS) launched a new season of DNA sampling activities in Dalmatia, Croatia, as part of the LIFE WILD WOLF project.
The campaign began with a series of workshops aimed at engaging participants in the collection of genetic samples and supporting ongoing wolf monitoring efforts.
Monitoring Wolf–Dog Hybridisation in Dalmatia
Dalmatia was selected as one of the project's focus areas due to previously recorded cases of wolf–dog hybridisation, a conservation concern that can affect the genetic integrity of wild wolf populations.
The new sampling campaign, which will continue until February 2027, aims to assess whether hotspots of wolf–dog hybridisation remain in the region following the implementation of LIFE WILD WOLF activities.
The initiative builds on the project's previous genetic monitoring efforts. During the first year of LIFE WILD WOLF, a nationwide sampling campaign was conducted across Croatia, resulting in the collection of 282 wolf scat samples. Genetic analyses of the samples collected within the project did not detect any first-generation wolf–dog hybrids.
The new campaign will provide further information to support the assessment of hybridisation in Dalmatia and contribute to evidence-based wolf conservation.
Engaging Local Communities in Wolf Monitoring
An important part of the initiative is the involvement of local participants in DNA sample collection.
Through a series of workshops, the Croatian project partners are encouraging people to actively contribute to wolf monitoring activities and become involved in the project's conservation efforts.
The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the Croatian Hunting Association warmly thank everyone who has already participated in the workshops and invite interested individuals to join the new sampling season and become wolf trackers!
By combining scientific monitoring with local participation, LIFE WILD WOLF continues to strengthen knowledge of wolf populations and support effective conservation measures in Croatia.
For more information about the project and its activities, visit www.lifewildwolf.com or www.easywolf.eu.
