European Commission Proposes Downgrading Wolf Protection Status

Proposal Allows Regulated Hunting, Sparks Controversy Among Environmentalists and Conservationists

The European Commission has proposed to downgrade the protection status of wolves from 'strictly protected' to 'protected', which would allow regulated hunting.
The proposal follows lobbying from farming groups and politicians who argue that growing wolf populations pose a threat to livestock.
Environmentalists and conservationists criticize the proposal, stating it lacks scientific evidence and sets a dangerous precedent for environmental protection laws.
An estimated 20,300 wolves exist across the EU, and while their impact on livestock is generally small, it can be high in certain areas.
The proposal must be approved by EU member states and other parties to the Bern Convention before the wolf's protection can be downgraded.