European animal rights parties in 11 of the 27 EU countries have made a joint appeal for continued strict protection of wolves in Europe.
In a letter to countries that have signed the Bern Convention, the eleven parties express serious concerns about the proposal of EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen to strip wolves of their strictly protected status. The letter was handed over on Wednesday afternoon in Strasbourg to the Bern Convention expert panel that will decide on the wolf on 3 December.
“The weakening of wolf protection is the result of a political witch hunt. It is reminiscent of the 19th century when wolves were exterminated en masse in Europe. You 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 shoot 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 humans and wolves can coexist peacefully," says Hazekamp.
According to her, there is still hope for the wolf: “Even if the strict protection under the Bern Convention is abolished, the wolf is still strictly protected by EU legislation (Habitats Directive) and national legislation (Environment Act). Each EU country can use a veto to prevent the wolf from losing its legal protection under the Habitats Directive.”