The wolf, which killed several sheep, goats and wild animals at the end of last year on the edge of the Upper Bavarian Alps, must not be shot, at least for the time being. The administrative court in Munich overruled the shooting license issued by the government of Upper Bavaria on Friday, as it considers it likely to be illegal. The court thus followed the urgent applications of the Federal Nature Conservation and the Society for the Protection of Wolves and their argument that the wolf does not pose a current threat to people in the region.
According to the court, none of the documented cases showed that the wolf with the official name GW 2425m approached people in a dangerous manner that was atypical for the otherwise shy and strictly protected animals. At best, “radio transmitter and deterrent measures” are required, but no firing. In addition, there has been no trace of the animal in the region since December 19.
This decision is valid until a judgment is reached in the main proceedings. The government’s decree was also sharply criticized by hunters, who considered it impractical and unworldly. In the districts of Traunstein, Rosenheim and Berchtesgadener Land only a few hunters had reported to be shot.