In the emotionally charged debate about how to deal with wolves in Bavaria, the Federal Nature Conservation Association is moving away from its categorical rejection of any shooting. In a new position paper, which is to be presented on Tuesday, the association is shifting its pain threshold and agreeing to easier shooting on mountain pastures and Alps under certain conditions. “This means that we are opening up our previous position to some extent. But it is also clear that the general protection status of the wolf will not be shaken,” said BN boss Richard Mergner, the dpa. “Our lawsuit against the state government’s wolf regulations also remains unaffected.”
According to Mergner, the new paper is intended to make the discussion more objective and takes particular account of the potential threat posed by wolves to different grazing animal species. In doing so, the BN takes into account experiences from other Alpine countries regarding wolf cracks and also takes into account the structure of alpine pasture management when assessing wolf shootings after cracks and the reasonableness of herd protection measures. “There are always errors and controversies about the shooting of protected animals and the reasonableness of herd protection on the mountain pastures and Alps.” According to the BN paper, adjustments are also planned for the compensation payments for killed animals.
There has been a heated debate in Bavaria for years about how to deal with the strictly protected wolves. Critics such as the state government and parts of the farming community are in favor of quickly shooting all animals, even if they have not demonstrably killed any farm animals and even if they were conspicuous for their lack of shyness near cities or villages. They are opposed by environmental and animal rights activists who point out that the conservation status of the strictly protected species is not yet assured everywhere. Wolves are a problem, especially for farmers. The number of livestock killed or injured by wolves has recently increased. There were 77 in 2022.