The wolf is causing waves not only in Austria, but also at EU level. While ÖVP-EU MPs want to rethink the animal’s conservation status, the Greens believe wolves should be preserved in Europe.
On Thursday, MEPs will vote on a resolution on the controversial animal. “In the text, we call on the European Commission to monitor the science on wolves, and the data is more than clear: the wolf population is growing and the damage to local alpine and grazing industries is growing along with it,” said the ÖVP-EU- MPs Simone Schmiedtbauer, Alexander Bernhuber and Barbara Thaler together demand that the protection status of wolves be reviewed.
Green: Wolves don’t eat humans
Criticism of this attitude comes from Green MEP Thomas Waitz. “Fairytales” would be spread about wolves, such as that the animals would eat humans. So far, there have been injuries, but not a single fatal attack on a person. “Wolves have a positive impact on biodiversity and their protection is central to preserving biodiversity in Europe.”
Dealing with wolves has been regulated in the EU for 30 years in the so-called Fauna-Flora-Habitats Directive (FFH). The wolf is listed as a “species of Community interest in need of strict protection”. To change the directive, all 27 EU countries must agree. The environment ministers are responsible, in Austria Leonore Gewessler (Greens).
31 wolves live in Austria
According to the “Austrian Center Bear Wolf Lynx”, 31 wolves were detected in Austria in August, and the trend is rising. By summer this year, 489 sheep and goats and one cow had been killed. There are an estimated 17,000 wolves across Europe.
Source: Krone
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