Marriage fails between EU and wolf
The protection status of the wolf in the European Union will be updated.
The wolf will no longer be a ‘strictly protected species’, but will soon go through life in the European Union as a ‘protected species’. In reality, this means that in future, wolves will be allowed to be shot by licensed hunters to manage the population. The Standing Committee of the Bern Convention confirmed this at a meeting on Tuesday.
By easing the wolf's protection status, the EU wants ‘more flexibility’ to prevent the growing wolf population from continuing to cause increasing damage to European livestock.
Indeed, between 2012 and 2023, the number of wolves living in Europe almost doubled, bringing with it an increase in the number of livestock killed by wolves to 65,500. With this new status, wildlife populations may be ‘managed’. Just as it is already the case for wild boar. So the wolf may certainly not disappear, but the rules to shoot it will be eased at the EU's own request. The new protection status should come into force in three months' time, after which the European Union can ease its habitat directive.
(FVDV for Tagtik/Source: AD - Euronews - Natuurpunt/Illustration picture: Pixabay)