Conservationists say species such as bears, wolves, lynx（猞猁，山猫）, eagles and vultures（秃鹰） have increased in numbers.

 

They believe that protection, curbs¹ on hunting and people moving away from rural areas and into cities have helped Europe's wildlife to recover.

 

The analysis was carried out by the Zoological Society of London, Birdlife and the European Bird Census² Council.

 

The report was commissioned by the conservation group Rewilding Europe.

 

Frans Schepers, the organisation's director, said: "People have this general picture of Europe that we've lost all our nature and our wildlife. 

 

"And I think what the rest of the world can learn from this is that conservation actually works. If we have the resources, a proper strategy, if we use our efforts, it actually works." 

 

Over the past few centuries, animals in Europe have not fared well. Hunting, habitat loss, and pollution have sent animals into decline.

 

But this report marks a reversal in fortunes.

 

The researchers looked at 18 mammals and 19 bird species found across Europe. 

 

They found that all, apart from the Iberian lynx, had increased in abundance from the 1960s.

 

The largest increases were for the European bison, the Eurasian beaver³, the white-headed duck, some populations of the pink-footed goose and the barnacle goose. These had all increased by more than 3,000% during the past five decades.

 

For top predators⁴ such as the brown bear, numbers have doubled. And for the grey wolf, which saw serious losses in the past, populations have climbed by 30%.

 

For mammals, the comeback was largest in the south and west of Europe, and their range had increased on average by about 30%. The average range of the birds remained stable.

 

Mr Schepers said: "The wildlife comeback actually started after World War II in the 1950s and 1960s. Compared to the numbers in the 1600s and 1700s, it's still at a very low level, but it's coming back."

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