Marucco, FrancescaBoiani, Maria V.Dupont, PierreMilleret, CyrilAvanzinelli, ElisaPilgrim, KristineSchwartz, Michael K.von Hardenberg, AchazPerrone, Domenica S.Friard, Olivier P.Menzano, AriannaBisi, FrancescoFattori, UmbertoTomasella, MichelaCalderola, SoniaCarolfi, SabrinaFerrari, PieroChioso, ChristianTruc, FabrizioBombieri, GiuliaPedrotti, LucaRighetti, DavideAcutis, Pierluigi L.Guglielmo, FabioHauffe, Heidi C.Rossi, ChiaraCaniglia, RomoloAragno, PaolaLa Morgia, ValentinaGenovesi, PieroBischof, Richard2023-06-142023-06-142023-06-01Marucco, F., Boiani, M. V., Dupont, P., Milleret, C., Avanzinelli, E., Pilgrim, K., Schwartz, A. M. K., von Hardenberg, A., Perrone, S., Friard, O., Menzano, A., Bisi, F., Fattori, U., Tomasella, M., Calderola, S., Carolfi, S., Ferrari, P., Chioso, C., Truc, F., ... Bischof, R. (2023). A multidisciplinary approach to estimating wolf population size for long-term conservation. Conservation Biology, 37(6), article-number e14132. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.141320888-889210.1111/cobi.14132http://hdl.handle.net/10034/627856This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: [Marucco, F., Boiani, M. V., Dupont, P., Milleret, C., Avanzinelli, E., Pilgrim, K., Schwartz, A. M. K., von Hardenberg, A., Perrone, S., Friard, O., Menzano, A., Bisi, F., Fattori, U., Tomasella, M., Calderola, S., Carolfi, S., Ferrari, P., Chioso, C., Truc, F., ... Bischof, R. (2023). A multidisciplinary approach to estimating wolf population size for long-term conservation. Conservation Biology, 37(6), article-number e14132], which has been published in final form at [https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14132]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.The wolf (Canis lupus) is among the most controversial of wildlife species. Abundance estimates are required to inform public debate and policy decisions, but obtaining them at biologically relevant scales is challenging. We developed a system for comprehensive population estimation across the Italian Alpine Region (100,000 km ), involving 1,513 trained operators representing 160 institutions. This extensive network allowed for coordinated genetic sample collection and landscape-level spatial capture-recapture analysis transcending administrative boundaries. We produced the first estimates of key parameters for wolf population status assessment including wolf abundance (952 individuals, 95% CrI: 816-1120), the number of reproductive units (135 packs, 95% CrI: 112-165), and the proportion of mature individuals (33-45%). The results also provided reliable information about the monitoring effort, thereby overcoming an important limitation of citizen-science data. This is an effective approach for promoting wolf-human coexistence based on wolf abundance monitoring, and a tool for endorsing large-scale harmonized conservation practices. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. [Abstract copyright: This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.]https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/population modellingcitizen sciencelarge carnivoresimperfect detectionmonitoringspatial capture-recapturegenetic samplingArticle1523-1739Conservation Biology2023-06-14