The German politician asked for a re-evaluation of the strict protection rules in Europe after his beloved old pony named Dolly was killed by a wolf in Germany last year.
The concentration of wolf packs in some European regions poses a threat to livestock and potentially to humans as well. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, drew attention to this in her statement on Monday, urging the member states of the union to act against the threat.
The Commission's press release highlighted that the return of wolves to regions of the European Union where they had been absent for a long time is increasingly leading to conflicts with local farming and hunting communities, especially where measures to prevent attacks on farm animals are not fully implemented.
The Brussels board called on all relevant parties and authorities to submit up-to-date data on the wolf population and its management by September 22. Based on the collected information, the committee develops a new proposal where appropriate, which can modify the protected status of wolves in the EU, updating the current legal framework.
As a native species, the wolf is an integral part of Europe's natural heritage and plays an important role in European ecosystems. According to the habitat protection directive, most European wolf populations enjoy strict protection, but EU member states can deviate from the prohibitions of the strict protection system under certain conditions, for example to protect socio-economic interests.
Last December, the Euractiv news portal in Brussels wrote that an official shooting permit had been issued for a wolf in Hannover, Germany, after it killed the EC President's old pony named Dolly.
MTI
Photo: Pixabay
