BRUSSELS There may be changes to the strict protection of wolves in the EU. The EU Commission has asked researchers and other interested parties to provide information on the development of the wolf population.
The deadline for the survey ends today, Friday. Based on the answers, the Commission assesses whether there is a reason to change the protection status of the wolf in the EU.
In the background, there is concern about conflicts between wolves and local communities as European wolf populations become stronger.
The chairman of the commission Ursula von der Leyen wolf packs have become a real threat to domestic animals and possibly also to humans in some European regions.
Von der Leyen has first-hand experience with wolves: a wolf killed her family’s pony last fall on a German farm.
Susia now also in Belgium and Holland
The incident shocked von der Leyen and sparked a debate about the threat posed by wolves in densely populated Germany.
The wolf population has recovered quickly in Western and Central Europe, where wolves were hunted to the brink of extinction in the 19th century.
Currently, it is estimated that there are at least 17,000 wolves in Europe (excluding Russia). The wolf population has grown by several thousand in ten years.
As a result of population growth, wolves are now also found in westernmost Europe: Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
The EU Commission estimates that the growth of the wolf population will lead to increased conflicts with agricultural and hunting communities, especially if domestic animals are not protected from attacks.
A strictly protected species
The growth of the wolf population has been supported EU habitat directive, which protects about 1,300 species and subspecies in Europe. There are 140 protected species in Finland.
Wolves are under strict protection in Europe. According to the directive, deliberately disturbing, catching and killing wolves is prohibited.
Wolves may only be shot with a special permit if they pose a danger to their environment. In Finland, the game center is responsible for issuing exemption permits.
Criticism of wolf protection has increased as the wolf population has grown. The majority of wolf attacks are documented in areas that have not had time to prepare for the increase of wolves.
Wolves cause the most damage in France and Germany, where wolves are estimated to have killed a total of around 16,000 domestic animals in 2020.
The EU Parliament pointed out in a statement approved last yearthat wolves cause costs for livestock breeders and urged the commission to assess the need for strict protection of wolves.
Essayah: Finland is active
The Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is happy about the Commission’s intentions to assess the need for strict protection of the wolf. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayahin (kd), the opening of the commission is a significant change compared to the previous one.
– During this government, Finland has been very active in highlighting the need. It is written in the government program that we want to influence the commission and make it possible to hunt for support.
According to Essayah, the challenges related to wolves and other large carnivores are not limited to individual countries, but are a European-wide problem.
– When the issue becomes a challenge even in the larger member states, it is clear that this has to be reacted to.
Hundreds of answers from Finland
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has encouraged Finnish stakeholders to respond to the Commission’s survey. According to ‘s information, feedback has been actively sent to the Commission.
– It is excellent that the commission is finally addressing this question and also taking into account feedback from local actors, executive director of the Finnish Hunting Association Jaakko Silpola says.
According to Silpola, hundreds of responses to the commission’s survey are expected from hunting clubs. Hunters are required to start wolf population management hunting.
– Now the protection status of wolves should be reviewed and definitely changed, so that the EU member states would be able to carry out this population-maintaining hunting. Of course, stock management hunting is already successful in Sweden due to the more detailed legal regulations than in Finland.
MTK: The wolf situation is unsustainable
The members of MTK, which represents agricultural producers, have also responded actively. MTK’s own response states that the wolf situation in Finland has become unsustainable.
– The human tenderness of wolves in Finland has now decreased to an alarming level. This summer, there have been several brazen attacks by wolves inside the operational animal fences, even during the day, MTK reports.
MTK also hopes to strengthen the protection of property and people against wolf attacks.
– Whenever a large beast invades the yard, the vicinity of production buildings or immediately threatens people or domestic animals, its immediate removal must be possible without consequences, MTK states in its statement.
Nature organizations: No danger to humans
Nature organizations are surprised by Chairman von der Leyen’s exit. According to the organizations WWF, Birdlife and the European Environmental Bureau, the claims about the possible danger of wolves are not true.
– The wolf currently does not threaten humans, but of course it is true that the wolf causes damage to domestic animals, WWF program director Petteri Tolvanen states.
According to Tolvanen, killing wolves is not the solution to attacks on domestic animals. According to him, preventive measures such as large carnivore fences and the use of herd guard dogs should be preferred in the EU.
Organizations are surprised by the short three-week response time of the survey devised by Ursula von der Leyen. According to them, the survey violates the EU’s own principles of good governance.
WWF’s Tolvanen also questions chairman von der Leyen’s role as the initiator of the survey.
– This is not an initiative of the commission, but an initiative of the chairman of the commission, which may already have the flavor of the start of the election campaign, says Tolvanen.
– It wouldn’t be the first time a wolf is used as a political pawn. It’s a sport that evokes a lot of emotions, he continues.
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