Road to perdition: Is the wolf the only European species threatened by hybridisation?

The findings of a recent study into cross-breeding present ‘extraordinary practical conservation challenges’ for the future of wolves in Europe. With increasing urbanisation, hybridisation will continue growing

In southern Italy, mating with dogs has led to increasing numbers of wolf-dog hybrids. Zoologists fear that ‘genomic swamping’, may occur, where one set of genes threatens to oust all others.

According to a paper just published, almost half of the wolves in southern Italy are mongrels. Mating with dogs has led to increasing numbers of wolf-dog hybrids. Zoologists are anxious. They fear that ‘genomic swamping’, where one set of genes threatens to oust all others, may be occurring.

Zoologist Rita Lorenzini, and colleagues at the Tuscany and Lazio Experimental Zoological Institute, examined the genetic profiles of 748 wolves found dead between 2020 and 2024 and 26 which died between 1993 and 2003. The carcases came from the Italian peninsula.