EU Wolves’ Protected Status Reduced, Enabling Culling Amid Population Growth

In Sanmartin, a village situated in Romania’s eastern Carpathian mountains, the initial winter snowfall has occurred. Shepherd József Rácz and his sons maintain a flock of 500 ewes on the elevated pastures. Their existence is challenging; beyond the thrice-daily milking of their sheep, a constant concern is safeguarding the animals from predators. Annually, József experiences the loss of five or six animals from his herd due to attacks by wolves or bears. This situation prompts him to maintain 17 dogs. The farmer asserts, “A good dog is the best tool a shepherd has, to protect his flock at night, and in the daytime too.” On Tuesday, the stringent protection afforded to grey wolves in Europe for 45 years concluded, following the adoption of EU measures by conservation officials to lessen the animal’s protected classification. This development signifies that grey wolves will transition from Annex II (strictly protected) to Annex III (protected) within the Bern Convention framework. This alteration will eliminate many of the protective measures that have facilitated the animals’ proliferation in Europe, meaning that from the beginning of March next year, every EU member state will be permitted to establish an annual quota for wolf culls. The Commission asserted that the wolf population within the EU has nearly doubled, increasing from 11,000 in 2012 to more than 20,000 presently, and that these animals were inflicting excessive harm upon livestock. The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) has characterized this decision as “extremely disappointing”. In a statement, the WWF commented, “Wolf populations have barely recovered after going extinct in most parts of Europe, and weakening their protection could jeopardise this fragile recovery.” The organization additionally accused the Commission of prioritizing political considerations over scientific evidence, stating that the decision was influenced by “personal reasons after Commission President Von der Leyen’s pony was killed by a wolf in 2022”. Wildlife campaigners have contended that enhanced protection methods, specifically including trained sheep dogs, would constitute a more effective solution than the removal of existing safeguards. They state that wolves contribute to controlling the populations of deer and wild boar, which are known to damage trees and crops. Furthermore, wolves help prevent the proliferation of diseases by preying on sick animals. In Baile Tusnad, a town situated in a valley close to József’s village, wildlife experts recently convened to deliberate on large carnivores. The majority of these experts, though not all, express opposition to the hunting of wolves and bears. Michal Haring, a biologist from Slovakia, remarked, “African swine fever is spreading all over Europe, and the wolf is a very good ‘doctor’ for this, suppressing the disease. Wolves cannot catch it.” A further argument presented against the culling of wolves is that they hunt in packs typically comprising five to eight individuals, usually a breeding pair and their offspring. If the older wolves are shot, the pack becomes fragmented, which makes it more difficult for them to successfully hunt deer and wild boar. Mr Haring elucidated, “Individual wolves are more likely to attack sheep and other domesticated animals.” Campaigners additionally referenced a 2023 EU report, which indicates that only approximately 50,000 of Europe’s 68 million sheep and goats are killed by wolves each year – representing 0.065% of the total number – further stating that the overall effect of wolves on EU livestock is considered “very small”. Furthermore, the report specifies that there have been no fatal wolf attacks on humans for a period of 40 years. Laurent Schley, who leads the Wildlife department in the Luxembourg government, articulated, “If we expect countries like India or Indonesia to protect their tigers, and Africans to protect lions and elephants, then we as relatively rich Europeans should be willing to tolerate some wolves.” Luxembourg stands as one of the few western European nations where wolves have not yet been observed, though Mr Schley considers their eventual presence to be inevitable. He continued, “We have very high densities of deer and wild boar, so the conditions for the wolf are there. Of course, if individual wolves or packs start killing too much livestock, or were to show aggression towards humans, we would have to draw the line. Human safety always comes first.” However, on the mountainside, József states that wolves pose a danger because “they’re clever animals”. He supports the implementation of more stringent legal measures to cull these predators. József explains that bears approach through the forest, their footsteps on branches alerting his dogs; if they manage to breach the wickerwork enclosure where his herd resides at night, they will typically seize only one animal. Conversely, if a pack of wolves gains entry, they possess the capability to kill dozens of sheep simultaneously. Last year, József’s preferred dog, Moody, was killed by wolves in broad daylight as the animals transitioned from one pasture to another. Only his bloodied pelt was recovered. József states that an increase in the wolf population directly correlates with a greater probability of them preying on his sheep. Furthermore, training a proficient dog requires a significant amount of time.