Wolf Hunting in Austria: Population Decimated
Austria has significantly lowered the barriers to hunting wolves. Around a dozen animals were killed this year.
Around a Dozen Wolves Killed
The lowered barriers to hobby hunting of Austria wolves in wolves have noticeably decimated the population.
Around a dozen wolves were killed this year, as the Austrian Centre for Bear, Wolf and Lynx reported. In total, approximately 80 wolves were present in the Alpine republic at least temporarily this year, estimates Albin Blaschka of the Austrian Centre.
The animals, which are actually specially protected under the EU Habitats Directive, were hunted particularly intensively by hobby hunters in Tyrol and Carinthia. In Tyrol alone, around 200’000 cattle, sheep, goats and horses are driven to the alpine pastures every year.
Legal Barriers Lowered
The number of sheep and goats killed during this alpine season has declined significantly. According to the federal states, 394 livestock have so far fallen victim to wolves this year, compared to 791 in the previous year. Whether this is related to hunting has yet to be determined, said Blaschka. Six of Austria’s nine federal states have lowered the threshold for culling.
Easier culling also planned in Germany
In Germany, Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) wants to enable faster culling of individual wolves. According to the Federal Documentation and Advisory Centre on the Wolf (DBBW), there were 184 wolf packs, 47 wolf pairs and 22 resident lone wolves in Germany in 2022/2023, totalling «1’339 wolf individuals».
Peaceful Coexistence Is Possible
The Austrian «Verein gegen Tierfabriken» considers peaceful coexistence with the wolf possible even in alpine terrain. With shepherds, alpine livestock would not only be better protected from predators, but above all from falls, storms, or disease. Instead of protecting herds on the alpine pastures with personnel or fences, Austria is engaging in “senseless shooting,” according to the association.
Overall, the Austrian Centre assumes that eight packs are resident in the country. “We are at most in the initial phase of settlement,” says Blaschka.
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