Wolves have returned to Greece’s Peloponnese, nearly 100 years after disappearing from the region, environmental group Callisto announced.

Using camera traps, the group confirmed the presence of nine wolves—four adults and five pups—in Mount Taygetus, near ancient Sparta, in November 2024. This marks the first scientific proof of wolves in the area since the late 1930s.

The return is seen as a positive sign for biodiversity but it also highlights the need for balancing human activities, like livestock farming, with wildlife conservation. The discovery follows reports of livestock predation in October, prompting Callisto to intensify its research, placing cameras and tracking wolf tracks and feces.

While wolves have been spotted in parts of mainland Greece, their resurgence in the Peloponnese is a significant step in the recovery of the species. Currently, an estimated 700 wolves roam Greece, mostly in remote, mountainous areas. However, as natural prey dwindles, wolves are increasingly clashing with farmers, creating challenges for coexistence.

Wolves have re-emerged on Mount Parnitha in recent years, on the northwestern outskirts of Athens.