Creatures in the wild - Backhaus proposes restricted protection for wolves.
Germany has seen an increase in wolf population as per Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Environment Minister, Till Backhaus (SPD). As a result, these wolves no longer require the highest level of protection everywhere. According to Backhaus, "We need to consider regional variations and develop joint solutions for the 'favourable conservation status'."
During a meeting at the Environmental Ministers' Conference in Bad Durkheim, Rhineland-Palatinate, experts from federal and state governments discussed the regulations for wolf culling. Farmers have been requesting population control measures for a while now to protect their livestock. "I support the grazing animal keepers in finding practical solutions to reduce the wolf population that attacks their protected animals," said Backhaus. An updated practice guide, which was agreed upon in the ministerial round, is a start, but there's still work to be done. Individual federal states still have their separate approaches to wolf management.
"We need a legally binding framework for a standardized culling process," insisted Backhaus. He also suggested changing the wolf's status under EU law from "strictly protected" to "protected." Currently, the only way to shoot wolves is if they've repeatedly attacked livestock like sheep or goats and approach the herd within 1000 meters.
In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, several wolves have been killed this year due to car collisions. This suggests that young wolves are venturing out in search of their own territories, signaling further growth in the wolf population. The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation estimates around 1200 wolves in Germany during the 2021/2022 period. Since their return at the turn of the millennium, when they were hunted to extinction in Germany, wolves have made a significant comeback in the east and north. The Schwerin Environment Ministry reported 18 packs, three wolf pairs, and two lone wolves in the northeast during spring 2023. No more recent stats are available.
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Till Backhaus, as the Environment Minister of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and a member of the SPD in Germany, has proposed a reevaluation of wolf protection status due to the increase in their population. During a meeting in Bad Dürkheim, experts discussed regulations for wolf culling, with farmers seeking population control measures to protect their livestock. Backhaus supports finding solutions for farmers impacted by wolf attacks, and an updated practice guide was agreed upon. However, individual federal states have different approaches to wolf management, leading Backhaus to call for a legally binding framework and a change in the wolf's protection status under EU law. Despite 1200 wolves estimated in Germany during the 2021/2022 period, several have been killed in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern from car collisions, indicating continued wolf population growth.
