Farmers in Bavaria fear for their grazing animals and demand that the protection of the wolf be reduced. According to the Bavarian Farmers’ Association (BBV), around 1,500 farmers demonstrated on Saturday for better protection of their grazing animals. According to the announcement, farmers president Walter Heidl said: “It cannot and must not go on like this. Otherwise the tinkling of cowbells will soon be silent, and grazing will be over, for example in northern Bavaria or northern Germany.”
A heated debate about wolves is smoldering between conservationists and livestock owners. The strictly protected animal has been spreading in Bavaria for several years. According to the State Office for the Environment (LfU), ten packs or individual animals that are loyal to their location are currently living in the Free State. There are also migrating animals.
Heidl called for the wolf’s protection status to be reduced and for wolf management. The wolf population is growing by 30 percent annually, so that the prognosis for species conservation is favorable. “In order to protect pasture husbandry, politicians must now stand in front of the farming families instead of hiding behind wolves, bears and the like!”
The Federation of Nature Conservation (BN) pointed out on Friday that an average of ten grazing animals are torn down in Bavaria every year – mainly sheep and goats, but also calves. The bigger problem than the wolf are dogs that run freely. According to the BN, livestock keepers should be better informed about measures for herd protection and use the options offered – such as herd guard dogs and fences as well as compensation payments for animals that have been killed.
© SZ / dpa / heam