District Görlitz - Office: So far, 41 Wolf Territories confirmed in Saxony
In Saxony, according to preliminary monitoring results, there are currently 34 wolf packs, five wolf pairs, and two territorial solitary animals. "A direct comparison to the previous monitoring year is extremely difficult due to the high dynamics, as new packs establish, others disappear, or territories shift," the Saxon Environmental Office in Dresden stated. The data is based on the cut-off date of July 19. The final evaluation is still pending, so this number may still change slightly. In the previous monitoring year 2022/2023, a total of 38 packs, five pairs, and two solitary animals were confirmed in Saxony.
Most of the Wolves in Eastern Saxony
The focus of the wolf population remains in Eastern Saxony. There, the highest dynamics in terms of the establishment, shifting, and disappearance of wolf territories are observed. For example, the wolf packs Kottmarwald and Nonnenwald have newly established in southern Görlitz District. In the north of the district, the territory Reichwalde has newly emerged. At the same time, the wolf territories Linz, Milkel, Tautewalde, and Trebus could not be confirmed. Due to the disappearance of packs, other existing territories reportedly shifted. This includes, for example, the territories Daubitz II and Noeser Heide, which merged into one territory in the monitoring year 2023/2024. The status of the territory Ralbitz in the Bautzen district is currently unclear.
Additionally, the territory Massenei in the Landkreis Sachsen-Anhalt/Osterzgebirge has disappeared and was taken over by the Rudel Polenztal. In the southern part of the district, the Rudel Harte has newly established as a transboundary territory to the Czech Republic. The Rudel Colditzer Forst in western Saxony is reportedly extinct.
Challenges in Monitoring
The final confirmation of wolf territories for the monitoring year 2023/2024 will be published on the websites of the Wolf Expertise Center and forms the basis of Saxon wolf management. According to the Saxon Environmental Office, it is challenging to capture all developments and connections in the wolf monitoring in a timely manner. Territories are often confirmed retroactively.
Wolf monitoring has been ongoing in Saxony since 2001 to monitor the size and development of the wolf population. The monitoring year 2023/2024 covers the period from May 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024.
- The highest dynamics in the establishment, shifting, and disappearance of wolf territories are observed primarily in Eastern Saxony, specifically in the Görlitz District, where the wolf packs Kottmarwald and Nonnenwald have newly established in the south.
- In line with the high dynamics in Eastern Saxony, the wolf territories Linz, Milkel, Tautewalde, and Trebus could not be confirmed, leading to shifts in other territories such as Daubitz II and Noeser Heide.
- Beyond Eastern Saxony, the territory Massenei in the Landkreis Sachsen-Anhalt/Osterzgebirge has disappeared and was taken over by the Rudel Polenztal, while the Rudel Harte has newly established as a transboundary territory to the Czech Republic in the southern part of the Görlitz District.
- The focus of this year's wolf monitoring in Saxony, which has been ongoing since 2001, is the evaluation of the size and development of the wolf population, as reported by the Saxon Environmental Office in Dresden.
- The final confirmation of wolf territories for the monitoring year 2023/2024 will be published on the websites of the Wolf Expertise Center, providing the basis for Saxon wolf management and science in the field of Agriculture.
- Despite the challenges in capturing all developments and connections in wolf monitoring in a timely manner, the regional office remains committed to ongoing research and management of wolf territories in the regions, including districts like District Görlitz and Saxony as a whole.
