Wolves can help stop spread of tuberculosis in livestock, claim researchers

“Therefore predation, by removing infectious individuals, improves the health of wild boar populations and so the loss of individuals from wolf attacks is balanced by the reduction in death due to disease.”

Benefit

Jaime Marcos, from the Hunting Service of the Government of the Principality of Asturias, said the annual cost of compensation paid to farmers for wolf damage was about €1 million (£886,000) – a quarter of the annual expense of the TB eradication plan, which exceeds €4.1 million (£3.6m).

Professor Christian Gortazar from the Spanish Institute of Game and Wildlife Research added: “Paradoxically, our research has found that wolves may not be a hindrance to farmers but, in fact, a benefit by helping to prevent the spread of deadly diseases such as TB among livestock.

“Therefore these predators may be providing a key ecosystem service which should be recognised when considering human-carnivore conflicts and the conservation and re-establishment of carnivore populations.”