Downgrading of wolf protection is unlawful and risky

Tierschutz Austria and over 75 other animal welfare and environmental organisations are warning the 27 EU member states in an open letter against hastily transposing the downgrading of wolf protection into national law.

As long as legal challenges are pending before the European Court of Justice, legal certainty must be the highest priority.

On 24 June 2025, the amendment to the Habitats Directive was published in the EU Official Journal: the wolf's protection status was downgraded from “strictly protected” to “protected”. Member states now have 18 months to implement this change — but are not legally obliged to do so. Countries such as Belgium, Poland and the Czech Republic have already announced that they will not amend their national laws on hunting wolves by hobby hunters.

NGOs warn: implementation is premature and risky

The organisations warn against a hasty national legislative adjustment. Because:

• The legality of the decision is unclear — through ongoing legal challenges (e.g. Case T-634/24), the amendment could subsequently be deemed unlawful.
• Many wolf populations remain endangered and do not meet the requirements of a favourable conservation status.
• Socio-economic reasons are not permitted under EU law to play a role in changes to protection status — and there are no ecological grounds for the downgrading.

Tierschutz Austria: No relaxation of wolf protection legislation

The wolf is not in a favourable conservation status in Austria — any relaxation of legislation would be fatal, warns Madeleine Petrovic, President of Tierschutz Austria.Instead of symbolic politics, what is urgently needed is comprehensive livestock protection across the board, well-founded monitoring, and compliance with our protection obligations.

Through the initiative #TeamWolf and an ongoing petition, Tierschutz Austria is campaigning for the retention of strict protection status and effective livestock protection measures.

Background: Politically motivated decision without scientific basis

Science and the public clearly oppose the downgrading: Two open letters signed by over 700 scientists, as well as the IUCN working group Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe call for maintaining strict protection. A survey commissioned by the EU Commission also shows: 71% of EU citizens support the existing protection status.