EU Commission targets the wolf

Ursula von der Leyen warns of allegedly "dangerous wolves" - nature conservation organisations criticise misleading statements and dubious data collection

Wolf drinking

Wolves in Europe do not usually pose a threat to humans.

© Hans Glader

In an open letter, numerous nature and animal protection organisations have criticised EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for her harsh choice of words on the subject of wolves. In a press release of the EU Commission, von der Leyen had described wolves as a "real danger for livestock and potentially also for humans". International nature conservation organisations, including EuroNatur, reacted with "great concern" to the misleading wording, which stirs up unnecessary worries and, above all, is not based on scientific data. "In Europe, the wolf does not generally pose a threat to humans," also emphasises Antje Henkelmann, Wolf Project Manager at EuroNatur. "We have to find ways to avoid conflicts between humans and wild animals as much as possible and to protect herd animals - attacks on farm animals can be almost ruled out with proven countermeasures and, in case of doubt, financially compensated. The fact that the EU Commission President is now arguing beyond the scientific facts and shooting so sharply against the wolf fills us with concern."

In addition, the nature conservation organisations criticise a non-transparent and short-term data collection via email, which the Commission wants to use to possibly reduce the protection status of the wolf. "The wolf must not be used as a Trojan horse to change the Habitats Directive, which protects so many other species across Europe," says Antje Henkelmann. "The directive must not be watered down, serious data from member countries is available."

News

Illegal garbage dumps cause conflicts with bears

Illegal garbage dumps near settlements are not only a problem for the soil and the environment. They often attract brown bears. Being omnivores, the…

EU Commission targets the wolf

Ursula von der Leyen warns of allegedly "dangerous wolves" - nature conservation organisations criticise misleading statements and dubious data…

Wolf Offspring confirmed in the Black Forest

++ Photo trap image from the community of Schluchsee provides evidence of offspring ++ First wolf pack in over 150 years in Baden-Württemberg ++

Learning to live with bears

Preventing conflicts between people and wild animals

Don’t be afraid of the wolf

For the first time in more than 100 years, the presence of a female wolf has been verified in the Black Forest. Since two male wolves already live in…

New Brown bear project just started

An important step for the protection of the Dinaric-Pindos bear population: In close cooperation with our partners in the Balkans and the Italian…

Mother bear murdered in Montenegro

Poachers in Montenegro have shot dead the mother of two young brown bear cubs - a particularly dramatic case of wildlife crime, which has seen a…

Wolf population in West Poland still not secure despite growth in numbers

A long-term study on the spread of wolves into West Poland, which has just been published, makes clear that, despite the continuing growth in numbers…

Boom in illegal trade in animals in Albania

Despite a ban on hunting, numerous wild animals are being killed or traded in Albania; stuffed Balkan lynx, brown bears in cages, wild game on the…