Faster wolf cull: Bern Convention lowers protection status

The signatory countries of the so-called Bern Convention have lowered the protection status of the wolf, thus creating the conditions for faster shooting. In future, the animals will no longer be considered "strictly protected", but only "protected".

The necessary two-thirds majority of the states represented voted in favor of this on Tuesday, as announced by the responsible Council of Europe in Strasbourg. This is the prerequisite for an amendment to EU legislation. Switzerland had supported the proposal.

Until now, wolves may only be shot in the EU if they pose a danger to humans and grazing animals. In practice, the hurdles for a shooting permit are high and the results of a DNA analysis often have to be awaited. Lowering the protection status makes so-called population management possible. The wolf remains protected, but hunting the animals is possible in principle.

The EU Commission must now make concrete proposals for the future hunting regulations for wolves. The EU Commission must now make concrete proposals for the future hunting rules for wolves, after which the 27 member states and the European Parliament will discuss amending the law. It is therefore likely to be several months before new rules actually apply.

SDA