Unregulated hunting and genetic recovery from a severe population decline: the cautionary case of Bulgarian wolves

摘要: European wolf (Canis lupus) populations have suffered extensive decline and range contraction due to anthropogenic culling. In Bulgaria, although wolves are still recovering from a severe demographic bottleneck in the 1970s, hunting is allowed with few constraints. A recent increase pressure has raised concerns regarding long-term viability. We thus carried out com- prehensive conservation genetic analysis using microsat- ellite mtDNA markers. Our results showed high heterozygosity levels (0.654, SE 0.031) weak signals, suggesting good recovery since 1970s decline. However, we found of inbreeding (FIS = 0.113, 0.019) Ne/N ratio lower than expected for an undisturbed population (0.11, 95 % CI 0.08-0.29). also evidence hybrid- isation introgression feral dogs (C. familiaris )i n 10 92 (9.8 %). suggest admixture between local golden jackals aureus), but less as compared dogs. detected struc- ture that may be explained by fragmentation patterns dur- ing differences ecological characteristics, more sampling needed assess further substructure. conclude hybridisation other canid species, which likely result unregulated hunt- ing, compromise viability this despite its current diversity. The existence subdivision warrants assessment whether separate management units different sub- populations. study highlights threats growing numbers subject unregu- lated hunting.