European Wolf Protections Downgraded, Allowing Easier Culling

The Bern Convention approved lowering wolves' status from 'strictly protected' to 'protected,' enabling regulated hunting under specific conditions.

The Bern Convention voted to reduce the wolf's protection status, citing population recovery and increasing livestock conflicts across Europe.
The decision allows for regulated culling of wolves under certain conditions, though EU law must still be amended before it takes effect in member states.
Environmental groups criticized the move as politically driven and warned it could undermine decades of conservation efforts.
Farmers and hunting advocates welcomed the change, arguing it provides necessary tools to address livestock losses caused by wolves, which reportedly kill over 65,000 animals annually in the EU.
The new status will take effect in March 2025 unless a third of member states object, with further legislative steps required at the EU level to implement changes.