Wolves: Protection status drops - danger to cattle farming is increasing!

Wolves: Protection status drops - danger to cattle farming is increasing!

Wolves lose their strict protection status in Europe!

A dramatic turning point for the wolves in Europe! The 49 member states of the Bern Convention have decided to downgrade the protection status of the wolves from "strictly protected" to "protected". This was announced by the Council of Europe on Tuesday. The decision comes into force in March 2025 and is a direct reaction to the growing wolf population and its effects on agriculture.

wolves were protected against hunting and catch, unless they were a serious threat to cattle or public security. With the new status, the “use” of the wolves is now regulated, which means that the threshold for hunting is significantly reduced. The European Commission had already proposed this step last year after conflicts between wolves and agricultural communities had occurred. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, commented on the vote: "Important news for our rural communities and farmers. We need a balanced approach between the preservation of the wildlife and the protection of our livelihoods."

A look back at wolf history

The gray wolves were almost eradicated in Europe a century ago, but thanks to successful nature conservation measures, their number has risen sharply. In 2023 breeding pairs of gray wolves lived in 23 EU countries, the overall population is estimated at around 20,300 animals. This increase has led to more frequent encounters between humans and animals. Over 300 environmental and animal welfare organizations have spoken out against the loosening of protection and warn that it is still too early because the population recovers, but the process has not yet been completed. The WWF described the decision as "extremely disappointing" and politically motivated and criticized that one succeeds from your own nature conservation success.