EU plans to allow wolf culling as numbers rise

In recent months, concerns over the rising population of wolves in the European Union have increased, prompting the European Commission to propose altering the protection status of these animals. Currently, wolves are listed as strictly protected under Annex II of the Bern Convention, but the Commission aims to downgrade them to Annex III. This change would enable individual EU member countries to establish annual quotas for wolf culling. The wolf population has reportedly nearly doubled since 2012, rising from approximately 11,000 to over 20,000. Farmers are particularly concerned about the impact of wolves on livestock, leading to calls for action. However, some wildlife advocates argue that the actual damage wolves cause to livestock is minimal, with only about 50,000 sheep and goats lost each year due to wolf attacks—a mere fraction of the total livestock present in Europe. They also highlight that there have been no fatal wolf attacks on humans in four decades. The debate over culling wolves reveals a significant divide in public opinion, as farmers deal with the reality of protecting their livelihoods amid increasing wolf numbers, while conservationists stress the ecological benefits that wolves offer, including their role in controlling deer and wild boar populations, which can negatively impact agriculture. As discussions progress, the implications of changing the wolves' protected status could be far-reaching, affecting biodiversity and farmers alike across the European landscape.