The wolf, which was exterminated from large parts of Europe at the beginning of the 20th century, is back. In the EU, there are now over 20,000 wolves, according to a report from the European Commission, compared to 11,000 12 years ago.
Since 1992, it is illegal to capture or kill wolves in the EU and the animal has only been able to be hunted through exceptions. But the wolf’s return has led to heightened tensions and farmers across Europe have protested the hunting ban after their livestock were attacked.
Foreign Office
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In September 2022, the EU’s top leader, Ursula von der Leyen, is affected herself, when her pony Dolly is killed by a wolf.
“Real danger to livestock”
A year later, the European Commission released a press release in which Ursula von der Leyen warned that the wolf “has become a real danger to livestock, and potentially also to humans”. In December 2023, a proposal was presented to lower the wolf’s status from “strictly protected” to “protected” and make it possible to hunt wolves within the EU.
In Germany, there are approximately 1,400 wolves, according to the European Commission. One who has noticed the wolf’s presence is Dirk Sander in Hanover, whose cows have been attacked by wolves.
– It should be possible to euthanize the wolves that do not behave normally, that get through fences or move in areas where you cannot put up fences.
The Minister: “Very good”
Sweden allows some licensed hunting and has previously been criticized by the European Commission for shooting too many wolves.
The government is in favor of the EU proposal.
– It is very good. Many more countries than Sweden experience problems with too large a wolf pack, says Rural Affairs Minister Peter Kullgren (KD) to the Foreign Office.
But there are also critics, such as wolf enthusiast Maurice Schalker in the Netherlands.
– All wild animals deserve the opportunity to live. It was here and we killed them 150 years ago. I just think we have to do everything we can to protect our livestock.
Do you want to know more? See Foreign Office: Kill Wolf on SVT Play.