Wolf Remains Strictly Protected in Germany
Finland wanted to grant two hunters special permits to shoot seven wolves. The European Court of Justice has now established the conditions under which these strictly protected animals may be killed.
The debate over the shooting of wolves has repeatedly made headlines in Germany in recent months. Now the European Court of Justice has placed strict limits on permits to shoot wolves. In a ruling on Thursday, the Luxembourg judges set out strict conditions for exceptions to the prohibition on the intentional killing of wolves enshrined in EU law. Among other things, authorities must define a clear objective and provide scientific evidence that the shooting serves that objective and that no alternatives exist. The preventive shooting of wolves without a specific justification is not permissible under European law.
ECJ Sets Strict Limits on Wolf Culling
The background to this case is a situation in Finland. An environmental association had brought a legal challenge against the decision of the wildlife authority to permit two hobby hunters to shoot a total of seven wolves. The authority justified the permits on the grounds of “population management” and the curbing of poaching. The aim was also to prevent damage to dogs and to increase the general sense of public safety.
Ultimately, according to the authority, the goal was to increase “societal tolerance” towards wolves. Finland’s Supreme Administrative Court asked the ECJ for guidance on the interpretation of the EU Habitats Directive, which is intended to protect habitats, animals, and plants. Under the directive, the killing of a number of strictly protected species is in principle prohibited, including the wolf. Exceptions are already provided for in the directive; the EU judges have now defined these more precisely. The question of whether the conditions described were met in the Finnish case was referred back to the national court.
Wolf Population in Germany Is Growing
According to official figures coordinated with the federal states, 75 wolf packs, 33 wolf pairs, and 3 territorial lone wolves lived in Germany during the wolf year 2017/2018. The figures for the current wolf year have not yet been fully recorded and will be announced in autumn 2019.
