A new regulation allows the shooting of problem wolves in Styria, but so far there have been no cases. And a new ruling by the European Court of Justice could put an end to the wishes of many mountain farmers anyway.
At the end of last year, Styria followed suit and, like other states, passed a wolf ordinance – after long debate and resistance from SPÖ environmental councillor Ursula Lackner. This allows hunters to kill wolves that pose a risk to humans or have been proven to have killed several livestock animals in a certain area within a certain period of time.
So far, the regulation has not had to be applied, the office of regional agricultural councillor Simone Schmiedtbauer (ÖVP) confirmed on Thursday. There has been no proven wolf attack for Styria this year, “but we are only at the beginning of the alpine season”. However, there have already been 78 reports of wolf sightings, and in 13 cases it was actually the predator.
EU ruling with consequences
However, it is questionable whether shootings can take place at all and whether they are legally covered. Then the European Court of Justice caused a stir with a ruling announced on Thursday: An exception to the shooting ban is only possible “if the wolf population is in a favourable conservation status, which is not the case in Austria”.
Specifically, it was a case in Tyrol, but the consequences affect all of Austria. The attempts by conservative politicians, such as the ÖVP, to lower the protection status of the wolf at EU level are also being postponed. A vote planned for June had to be postponed, but could now take place in October.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
