Overview

• The German coalition government is expediting plans to integrate wolves into national hunting law, aligning with EU proposals to reduce their protection status.
• The Bundesrat, led by states like Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Thüringen, has called for urgent legal adjustments to enable regional wolf population management.
• Rural communities and hunting associations advocate for active population control due to increased livestock losses linked to growing wolf numbers.
• Environmental groups, including BUND, argue that culling wolves will not reduce livestock damages and emphasize the importance of herd protection measures.
• The proposed reforms do not include a specific wolf culling quota, signaling a cautious approach to balancing conservation and agricultural needs.