EU Proposes Reduced Protection for Wolves to Address Livestock Threats

The European Commission seeks to downgrade wolves' status from 'strictly protected' to 'protected,' citing population growth and livestock concerns, while sparking conservationist criticism.

• The European Commission has proposed amending EU law to reclassify wolves from 'strictly protected' to 'protected,' making it easier to manage their populations through regulated hunting.
• The proposal aligns with a recent change under the Bern Convention, which took effect Friday, but still requires approval from the European Parliament and EU member states.
• Wolf populations in Europe have grown significantly, with over 20,000 animals reported in 2023, leading to increased livestock attacks but also aiding in controlling wild game populations.
• Conservationists warn that the measure could undermine the species' recovery after near extinction a century ago, while farmers and some lawmakers welcome the flexibility to address livestock losses.
• Critics have questioned whether European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's personal experience of losing a pony to a wolf in 2022 influenced the proposal.

4 Articles

POLITICO Deutsche Welle