European Court of Justice Rules Against Wolf Hunting in Spain's Castilla León

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that regions cannot authorize wolf hunting if national population levels remain low, as seen in Spain's Castilla León. This decision, announced on July 29, follows a similar ruling in Austria, emphasizing that the wolf cannot be classified as a huntable species when its conservation status is deemed unfavorable at the national level. The ruling comes after Castilla y León's decision to permit the hunting of 329 wolves from 2019 to 2022 to protect livestock. In Spain, wolf populations south of the Douro River, including parts of Castilla y León, may face management measures, while those to the north enjoy stricter protections. The Spanish association for the conservation of the Iberian wolf (ASCEL), which challenged the hunting authorization in court, welcomed the ECJ's ruling as validation of their concerns. The EU's Habitats Directive mandates strict protection for wolves but allows for exceptions only if they contribute to the species' favorable conservation status. A report submitted by Spain in 2019 indicated an "unfavorable-mediocre" conservation status for wolves in three regions, including Castilla y León, leading the ECJ to conclude that hunting authorization contradicted the Habitats Directive. In light of this ruling, the NGO WWF Spain urged the government to implement a coexistence plan and enhance preventive measures for livestock farmers. This decision follows a recent ECJ ruling against Austria's Land of Tyrol, which had temporarily allowed wolf hunting without sufficient justification. While the European Commission proposed lowering the wolf's protection status in 2023 to appease livestock farmers, the Council has yet to reach a consensus on the matter. The ECJ emphasized that regions must rely on official data published every six years, alongside recent scientific findings, to inform their decisions on wildlife management.