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POLITICS

Why Germany is debating a plan to cull more wolves

A hunting debate is underway in Germany after Environment Minister Steffi Lemke said she wanted to make it easier to cull wolves in order to better protect grazing animals such as sheep.

Wolf
A wolf at the Wisentgehege Springe wildlife park near Hanover. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Julian Stratenschulte

“The culling of wolves after livestock attacks needs to be faster and less bureaucratic,” the Green Party politician told newspaper Die Welt.

“When dozens of sheep are killed and left dead in the pasture, it is a tragedy for every livestock farmer and a great burden for those affected. That’s why they need more support and security.”

The minister said she intended to present specific proposals at the end of September.

But not everyone agrees an expanded cull is the way forward. Environmental group Friends of the Earth Germany was quick to reject the plan.

“Experience from other EU countries clearly shows that gunshot-based measures do not sustainably reduce livestock losses,” said wolf expert Uwe Friedel.

The country’s Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union shared that view.

“Whether there are five or eight wolves in a region, they pose a risk to unprotected livestock. Culling does not make wolves keep more distance from livestock,” said spokesperson Marie Neuwald.

READ ALSO: ‘Germany’s most politicised animal’: How wild wolves are causing a stir

Even if the government goes ahead with its plans, implementation is complicated: in Germany, federal states are responsible for wolf management. Wolves currently enjoy high protection status both under German and EU law. In some regions, however, there are doubts as to whether this protected status is still justified due to larger populations.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) also expressed openness to lowering the strict protection status of the wolf at the end of July.

“It is correct that endangered species must be protected. However, if in certain regions the species is no longer endangered, we must also treat the wolf differently and, for example, cull them,” she said.

Although the protection of wolves is regulated by international law, local people’s living conditions must also be taken into account, she said.

The wolf, which had been extinct in Germany since the mid-19th century, has made a broad comeback in states like Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Saxony since its return around the turn of the millennium.

Wolves are known to attack livestock such as sheep, goats, and calves. According to the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, there are approximately 1,200 wolves in Germany based on wolf monitoring data for 2021/2022. The animals are spread across 161 packs, 43 wolf pairs, and 21 solitary wolves. Previous wolf culls, such as in Brandenburg in March, have been heavily criticised by many animal protection and environmental organisations.

According to the Federal Documentation and Consultation Centre on Wolves (DBBW), an average of 3.8 animals were killed per wolf attack in 2022. Of the livestock killed or injured by wolves in 2022 in Germany, 88.6 percent were sheep and goats, 4.2 percent were livestock in enclosures, and 6 percent were cattle (mostly calves). The number of livestock killed or injured in 2014 was less than 500, but according to the DBBW, this rose to over 4,000 in 2022.

Member comments

  1. There must be better ways than to cull.
    1200 wolves in all of Germany is not a lot.They have to eat something 4000 livestock (out of how many)
    I know the farmers suffer financial loss are they compensated in any way? They must be insured.
    I have not seen any shortages in the butchers.
    Better fencing around livestock, maybe with governmental aid.

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POLITICS

Scholz calls on coalition to ‘pull ourselves together’

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday called on his fractious governing coalition to "pull ourselves together" following a dismal showing in EU parliament elections last week.

Scholz calls on coalition to 'pull ourselves together'

In power since the end of 2021, the three parties in government — Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and the liberal FDP — have been at loggerheads on a wide range of issues including climate measures and budget spending.

“I think that this is one of the entirely justified criticisms of many citizens, namely that there is too much debate” within the coalition, Scholz told German television channel ZDF on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy.

“We need to pull ourselves together and stick together to reach agreements,” he added.

“The people have the right to demand that things change,” Scholz told public broadcaster ARD.

The three parties in the coalition suffered a severe defeat in the European elections, with the SPD achieving its worst result in a national election since 1949.

Subsequently, Scholz has faced mounting criticism within his own party.

On Saturday, however, Scholz told ZDF and ARD that he was “sure” that he would be the SPD’s next candidate for the chancellorship in the parliamentary elections scheduled for autumn 2025.

In the very short term, a new test awaits the coalition, which must reach an agreement on the 2025 budget by the beginning of July.

The FDP’s finance minister is opposed to any exceptions to the rules limiting debt and to any tax increases.

On the other hand, the SPD and the Greens are opposed to cuts in social welfare or climate protection.

The debate is also focused on increasing the resources allocated to the German army.

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