Because large carnivores generally have large home ranges, long dispersal distances and live at relatively low density they are particularly vulnerable to habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation.

In this study we will identify habitat characteristics associated with occurrence and density of three large carnivore species of European Union importance and use this information to assess the effectiveness of the current protected area system in Romania at conserving these species. The study covers the full extent of this eastern European country that hosts some of the largest contiguous populations of brown bear, gray wolf and Eurasian lynx in Europe.