Wolves in Slovakia have a complex and often turbulent history. Once widely persecuted, these wild canines were relentlessly hunted and driven into the remote valleys of the country’s east. However, Slovakia’s accession to the EU brought stronger conservation policies, allowing wolf populations to make a remarkable comeback.

Now, a new wave of fear and controversy threatens their future—not just in Slovakia, but across the EU. To explore the wolf’s history, biology, and the resurgence of hunting quotas, RSI spoke with zoologist Jeruš Tesák, Slovak Wildlife Society director Robin Rigg, and Slovak European Parliament member Michal Wiezik.