Update on the activity of the European Observatory of Wildlife (EOW) - campaign 2024

The European Observatory of Wildlife (EOW), developed within the ENETWILD project, has been active since 2021 as a collaborative network dedicated to designing and applying standardized protocols for harmonized data collection on key mammal species and their pathogens. By doing so, the EOW enhances the quality and consistency of information available for wildlife management and risk assessment across Europe. Since its establishment, the network has generated data through a camera-trapping protocol based on the Random Encounter Model (REM) for density estimation. Image sequences from camera traps are processed using the Agouti platform, which provides dedicated tools for managing camera-trapping projects. The workflow also integrates photogrammetry and an analytical pipeline that streamlines the direct estimation of REM parameters from acquired images. During the 2024 campaign, 58 study sites across 23 European countries were monitored by 36 institutions. This effort produced density estimates for numerous mammal species. In this report, we present results for the five most intensively monitored species: wild boar, European roe deer, red fox, red deer, and European badger. We also describe efforts to extend the network to areas affected by African Swine Fever (ASF) or located near infected zones, providing valuable information for disease management. Protocol improvements further standardized results generation and reduced human error. Together with the adoption of a new data policy, these advances led to the creation of the EOW database—an openly accessible resource containing REM-based density estimates from EOW sites. Finally, networking activities have been undertaken to build connections with other international initiatives and to promote EOW’s work at international conferences.