Barbara Boljte

1 Introduction Monitoring large carnivore populations is fundamental for responsible management strategies (Takinami et al. 2021), particularly when the paradigm changes from controlling populations to coexistence with humans (Creel and Rotella 2010; Bergstrom 2017). Population estimates guide scientists and practitioners to build coexistence actions, establish interventions, review their efficiency and impact on conservation goals (Fernández-Gil et al. 2016; Lorand et al.

1 Introduction In the field of conservation biology, inbreeding is recognised as a serious threat to endangered species, particularly those confined to small, isolated groups (Frankham, Ballou, and Briscoe 2002). Often an inadvertent consequence of population fragmentation and/or reduction in population size, it poses a significant risk to the genetic health and long-term viability of these populations.