The gray wolf (Canis lupus) is present in Switzerland, marking one of the country’s most significant recent natural developments. The species was completely absent from the Swiss landscape for over a century. It returned through natural migration and is protected under national and international law. The rapidly growing population is primarily centered in the mountainous regions, generating complex challenges for wildlife management, particularly concerning coexistence with traditional Swiss agriculture.
The Return of the Wolf to Switzerland
The wolf population was entirely eradicated from Switzerland in the 19th century due to intense persecution, driven by concerns for livestock and a general fear of the predator. The last native wolf was officially killed in 1871 near Iragna, located in the southern canton of Ticino. The species remained absent from the country for over 120 years following this extinction.
Modern recolonization began in the mid-1990s as part of a wider natural expansion across the Alps. The first confirmed presence of a single male wolf occurred in 1995, having migrated across the border from Italy into the canton of Valais. These wolves originate from the Italian Apennine population, which has gradually expanded its range northward.
Establishing a permanent presence was a slower process, relying entirely on natural dispersal and movement from neighboring countries. The first confirmed pack reproduction occurred much later, in 2012, in the Calanda region between Graubünden and St. Gallen. This event signaled the successful re-establishment of the species, transitioning from transient individuals to a resident breeding population.
Current Distribution and Population Status
The Swiss wolf population has experienced exponential growth since the first pack formed, with overall numbers roughly doubling every three years. By November 2023, the population estimate stood at approximately 30 packs and 300 individual wolves. This rapid increase in pack numbers indicates the species’ successful recovery and expansion.
The primary distribution area is concentrated in the Swiss Alps, which offer suitable habitat and abundant wild prey. Major populations are found in the cantons of Graubünden, Valais, and Ticino. Wolves have been documented in almost all 26 cantons, including the Jura region to the west.
Population monitoring is systematically conducted by various authorities and research groups, such as the Foundation KORA. As of the 2025/2026 monitoring year, 41 packs were confirmed across Switzerland. Many of these packs operate in transboundary territories, moving between Switzerland and its neighboring countries. For monitoring purposes, a pack is defined as at least three wolves observed together or a sexually mature pair with at least one confirmed pup.
National Wolf Management and Protection
The wolf is a strictly protected fauna species, primarily under the international Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, which Switzerland has ratified. Domestically, the species is protected under the Swiss Federal Hunting Act, which initially allowed for the reactive culling of individual wolves that caused significant damage to livestock. This protective status is complicated by the need to manage human-wildlife conflict, especially in regions reliant on traditional grazing practices.
The management framework shifted significantly with a 2022 revision of the Hunting Act, introducing “proactive population control.” This revision allows cantons to regulate wolf populations preemptively, moving beyond the previous strategy of only targeting problem individuals after multiple depredations. The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) must authorize any regulation measures, which can include culling a percentage of a pack’s pups or removing entire packs under strict conditions.
Conditions for removing entire packs are tied to “unwanted behavior.” This includes a pack repeatedly killing livestock after protection measures have been implemented, killing farm animals in a farmyard, or showing insufficient shyness toward people by regularly staying near settlements. This legal change authorized a large-scale culling period between December 2023 and January 2024, which generated considerable national and international controversy.
To mitigate livestock losses, the government provides financial support for preventative measures, including compensation programs and subsidies for protective equipment. These measures include deploying livestock guardian dogs and installing specialized electric fences to protect herds on summer pastures. Despite rising wolf numbers, these herd protection efforts have proven effective, with the number of livestock killed by wolves decreasing in 2023 compared to the previous year.