Overview
- The Council of the EU gave final approval on June 5 to change wolves from “strictly protected” to “protected,” with the revision entering into force 20 days after its publication in the EU’s official journal.
- The European Commission initiated the change at the request of regional administrations and the livestock sector to address at least 65,500 livestock killed annually by wolves across the EU.
- Spain plans to present a new study on wolf population trends and may open regulated hunting south of the Duero river once the revised status takes effect.
- Livestock groups, including UPA, welcomed the decision as a means to curb the steep rise in wolf attacks, which increased by up to 47% in parts of Spain since 2021.
- Galicia’s regional government has vowed to monitor Madrid’s wolf census data closely to ensure transparency as management responsibility shifts to member states.