Animal Parties Urge Bern Convention to Continue Protecting Wolves

In a letter to countries that have signed the Bern Convention, the eleven parties expressed great concern about EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s proposal to remove the wolf's strict protection status. The letter was handed over on Wednesday afternoon in Strasbourg to the expert panel of the Bern Convention, which will decide on the wolf on December 3. 

"Weakening the protection of the wolf is the result of a political witch hunt. It recalls the 19th century when wolves were systematically exterminated in Europe. One would hope that humanity has learned something in two centuries, namely that we should adapt to nature more often instead of the other way around," said Dutch MEP Anja Hazekamp (Party for the Animals)."

"Von der Leyen’s plan to start shooting wolves is short-sighted and cruel. The wolf is actually good news for our nature. As humans, we have the intelligence, the technology, and the responsibility to ensure that people and wolves can peacefully coexist," Hazekamp said.

According to her, there is still hope for the wolf: "Even if strict protection under the Bern Convention is abolished, the wolf remains strictly protected by EU legislation (Habitat Directive) and national legislation (Environmental Act). Any EU country can exercise a veto to prevent the wolf from losing its legal protection under the Habitat Directive. "