Protected Status of Wolves Downgraded by EU
4th December 2024
The number of wolves has grown in recent years in the Alps and elsewhere in Europe. Their number in the EU has almost doubled, from 11,000 in 2012 to over…
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The number of wolves has grown in recent years in the Alps and elsewhere in Europe.
Their number in the EU has almost doubled, from 11,000 in 2012 to over 20,000 today.
Several thousand are thought to be in the Alps.
Now 45 years of strict protection for grey wolves in Europe has come to an end.
It follows a growing number of wolves attacking farm animals and livestock.
Wolves will be moved from Annex II (strictly protected) to Annex III (protected) of the Bern Convention.
This will remove many of the safeguards that have allowed the animals to flourish in Europe.
From the beginning of March next year, each EU country will be able to set an annual quota of wolves to kill.
We have reported on the growth of wolves in the Alps in the past on PlanetSKI:
The Worldwide Fund for Nature, WWF, has called the decision “extremely disappointing”.
“Wolf populations have barely recovered after going extinct in most parts of Europe, and weakening their protection could jeopardise this fragile recovery,” said the WWF in a statement.
Wolves in winter. Image © PlanetSKI
