On the occasion of this year's Wolf Day, the German Animal Welfare Federation is warning the European Parliament not to take the path towards populism and ideology on the wolf issue. The 27 EU member states are expected to vote on May 8 on an amendment to the Habitats Directive to lower the protection status of wolves. Lowering the protection status would make it easier to authorize wolf culls and include wolves in the hunting laws of the federal states. The animal rights activists warn that such a course cannot be scientifically justified. Instead of killing wolves across the board, previously neglected herd protection should be urgently addressed. The aim should be the long-term coexistence of grazing animals, wolves and humans in the interests of animal and species protection.
“The vociferous demand to hunt wolves across the board lacks any scientific basis. It is based on long-outdated narratives and is obviously motivated purely by populism,” says James Brückner, Head of the Wildlife Department at the German Animal Welfare Federation. “In the midst of the global biodiversity crisis, the EU should be guided more urgently than ever by prudence and expertise in order not to gamble away its contributions to healthy ecosystems in Europe. The return of the wolf is a great success for species conservation. To turn back the clock now would be an indictment.”
FEAR OF WOLVES IS UNFOUNDED
The conservation status of the wolf population in Germany is currently still predominantly assessed as “unfavorable” according to strict scientific criteria. However, the image of the “big bad wolf” is still deeply rooted in some quarters and goes back centuries. The fear of wolves passed down through old tales and legends and fueled by hunting associations is unfounded: Wolves generally avoid direct encounters with humans. Where they live, they also perform important functions in the ecosystem: they regulate the number of roe deer and red deer and ensure healthier populations, as they mainly hunt weak and sick prey.
POLITICS IN GERMANY NEGLECTS SCIENTIFIC FACTS
Germany has one of the best monitoring systems for wolves and can closely observe the development of the population. At the beginning of April, the Federal Council, on the initiative of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, nevertheless called on the federal government to replace the methodology for population classification and to prepare for the inclusion of wolves in hunting legislation. “This hysterical actionism will not help grazing animals that are not sufficiently protected. On the contrary, in the worst case scenario, shooting wolves will lead to even more kills by destroying pack structures,” criticizes Brückner. In view of the current debate, Brückner is concerned. It cannot be ruled out that the handling of the wolf will set the course for other species such as rooks, lynx and grey seals. “Under no circumstances should the EU decision become a precedent.”
Note to editors: You can find more information on the life and behavior of wolves on our website: www.tierschutzbund.de/wolf
