New developments in the Bludenzer Wolf case: The administrative court of the state of Vorarlberg accepted the complaint from environmental organizations and the shooting decision was revoked. So a wolf’s journey through populated areas is not enough to immediately take it down.
The wolf that roamed Bludenz in Vorarlberg at the end of January should not be shot. The state government immediately approved the animal for shooting through the district administration; it had no place in the settlement area. Two environmental organizations filed a complaint with the Vorarlberg Administrative Court. The court announced its final decision on Friday that the conditions for removal had not been met. However, legal remedies are still available.
Wolf fled into the driveway
The sighting caused a stir early this year: Cell phone video showed a wolf running through a settlement in Bludenz and fleeing into the driveway ahead of the car from which the film was shot. State Governor Markus Wallner and State Councilor Christian Gantner (both ÖVP) announced an immediate shooting permit, although the state’s wildlife biologist did not detect any danger. The Bludenz BH subsequently granted an exemption for the removal in accordance with the Hunting Act in conjunction with the Hunting Regulations. The state government’s knee-jerk response drew criticism from both the opposition and environmental and conservationists, and two environmental organizations filed a complaint against it.
The animal’s behavior was monitored
The Vorarlberg Administrative Court investigated whether the animal’s behavior, documented on video, could be interpreted as dangerous to humans. According to the catalog of measures in the hunting regulations, in which various wolf behaviors are linked to the danger to humans, the measure ‘remove as quickly as possible’ qualifies ‘if the wolf behaves aggressively without reason (for example with threatening gestures or attacks ). in front of people or in inhabited buildings or stables attached to a farm.”
Conditions not met
The extensive investigation concluded that “the conditions for an extraction were not met,” the court said in a statement on Friday. Because such behavior was not detected. The decision is legally binding, but appeals to the Administrative Court and the Constitutional Court are still possible within six weeks.
Only in case of danger
Since a change in the law at the end of 2023, wolves and bears in Vorarlberg can be released for hunting through an exception in the hunting law. This is therefore permitted if there is an imminent danger “to the safety and health of people or to the prevention of serious damage in livestock farming”. The regulation has been criticized as impractical because it includes a 24-hour period before a wolf can be shot. This deadline is to ensure that the public can comment.
Source: Krone
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