Wolkatlas

Wolkatlas is an open-access digital atlas and data platform dedicated to mapping the distribution, ecology, and conservation status of wolves worldwide. It combines occurrence records, habitat models, population trends, and threat indicators to support research, conservation planning, and education.

The project was initiated in 2015 by the Wolf Conservation Alliance and a network of universities, NGOs, and government agencies. The initial release covered Europe, with additions expanding to North America in 2017 and Asia and Africa in subsequent years. Since 2020, the project has included related canids for comparative context and to facilitate cross-taxa analyses.

Wolkatlas relies on data from multiple sources, including IUCN range data, national wildlife services, peer-reviewed studies, telemetry datasets, and citizen-science observations. Data are standardized, with metadata, quality flags, and licensing information. Analyses include species distribution modeling, occupancy assessments, and trend estimation using time-series data; uncertainty estimates are provided where possible.

The platform offers an interactive map viewer, time-series visualizations, downloadable shapefiles and raster layers, an API for programmatic access, and educational resources for researchers and teachers. Access is open, with most data released under a permissive open license; the codebase and platform infrastructure are available under an OSI-approved license.

The project is governed by an international steering committee and supported by academic and philanthropic funding. Wolkatlas has been used by researchers, wildlife agencies, and conservation groups to identify priority habitats, monitor range shifts, and inform policy. Debates focus on data sensitivity and the responsible handling of precise locations to protect populations.