Wolves in EU Lose Safeguards, Allowing Culls as Numbers Soar
In a significant policy shift, European nations have voted to downgrade the protection status of wolves, facilitating controlled culling in response to rising populations and increased livestock attacks. Effective March 7, 2025, wolves will transition from “strictly protected” to “protected” under the Bern Convention, allowing for regulated hunting to manage their numbers.
This decision, endorsed by a majority of European countries and proposed by the EU Commission, aims to balance wildlife conservation with the protection of rural livelihoods. EU leaders emphasized the necessity of this measure, highlighting the importance of safeguarding rural communities and farmers’ interests.
The reclassification permits EU member states to implement more flexible hunting regulations, enabling quicker responses to wolf-related threats to livestock. However, the change will only take effect if fewer than a third of the Council of Europe’s 46 member states object within the stipulated period.
Conservationists have expressed strong opposition, arguing that the move undermines decades of successful wolf conservation efforts. They warn that reduced protections could lead to increased conflicts and jeopardize the species’ recovery in regions where they remain vulnerable.
The debate underscores the complex challenge of reconciling wildlife conservation with agricultural interests, as wolf populations, estimated at around 19,000 in the EU, have grown by 25% over the past decade. This growth has led to heightened tensions between conservation objectives and rural community concerns.
As the implementation date approaches, EU member states will need to navigate the intricate balance between preserving biodiversity and addressing the legitimate concerns of those affected by the resurgence of wolf populations.
