Wolves in EU lose safeguards, allowing culls as numbers soar
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The first snow of winter has arrived in Sanmartin, a village nestled in Romania’s eastern Carpathian Mountains. Shepherd József Rácz and his sons tend to a herd of 500 ewes in the high pastures, a life filled with hard work and constant vigilance. Between milking his sheep three times a day, József is also concerned with protecting them from predators, especially wolves and bears.
Each year, József loses around five or six sheep to these predators, which is why he keeps 17 trained dogs to guard his flock. “A good dog is the best tool a shepherd has, to protect his flock at night and during the day,” he says. However, recent changes to European wildlife protection laws threaten to increase the risk to his herd and others like it.
On Tuesday, the European Union made a controversial decision to ease protections for grey wolves, downgrading their status from Annex II (strictly protected) to Annex III (protected) under the Bern Convention. This move marks the end of 45 years of strict legal protection for the species. Starting in March next year, EU countries will have the authority to set annual quotas for wolf culls, allowing the killing of wolves in certain regions.
The EU Commission defended the decision, arguing that the number of grey wolves in Europe has skyrocketed, from about 11,000 in 2012 to over 20,000 today. The Commission stated that the wolves were causing significant damage to livestock, prompting the need for stricter controls. However, conservation groups such as the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) have expressed strong opposition, calling the decision “extremely disappointing.”
The WWF warns that the grey wolf population in Europe is still fragile, having only recently recovered from near extinction in many parts of the continent. Weakening protections could jeopardize this recovery. The organization also accused the EU Commission of making a politically driven decision, pointing to an alleged personal influence after Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s pony was killed by a wolf in 2022.
Wildlife advocates argue that other protective measures, such as the use of trained sheepdogs, should be prioritized over culling. They also highlight the ecological role wolves play in maintaining balance in the ecosystem. Wolves help control populations of deer and wild boar, which, in turn, protect trees and crops from damage. Additionally, wolves are seen as natural disease controllers, preventing the spread of illnesses by consuming sick animals.
In Baile Tusnad, a nearby town in the Carpathians, wildlife experts recently gathered to discuss large carnivores. While not all experts oppose the hunting of wolves, many argue that shooting them would disrupt the natural ecosystem. Michal Haring, a biologist from Slovakia, emphasized that wolves play a crucial role in controlling diseases like African swine fever, which is spreading across Europe. “Wolves cannot catch it,” he noted, adding that the predators help suppress its spread.
Another concern about culling is that wolves hunt in packs, usually consisting of five to eight members, including a pair and their offspring. If older wolves are killed, the pack may fragment, making it harder for the remaining members to hunt effectively. This could lead to increased attacks on livestock, as individual wolves become more likely to target easier prey like sheep.
A 2023 EU report also downplays the threat posed by wolves to livestock, stating that only around 50,000 of Europe’s 68 million sheep and goats are killed by wolves each year—just 0.065% of the total. Furthermore, there have been no fatal wolf attacks on humans in Europe for over 40 years.
Laurent Schley, head of the Wildlife department in Luxembourg, argued that Europeans should be more tolerant of wolves. “If we expect countries like India or Indonesia to protect their tigers, and Africans to protect lions and elephants, then we as relatively rich Europeans should be willing to tolerate some wolves,” he said. Although Luxembourg has yet to see wolves, Schley believes it’s only a matter of time, given the high populations of deer and wild boar in the region.
Despite the conservation arguments, József Rácz believes that wolves are a significant threat to his livelihood. He describes wolves as “clever animals” and supports tougher measures to control their numbers. While bears usually attack one sheep at a time when they breach the enclosure, wolves can kill dozens in a single raid. Last year, József’s favorite dog, Moody, was killed by wolves during the day, leaving behind only a bloodied pelt.
József’s concerns reflect the growing tension between wildlife conservation and the protection of agricultural livelihoods. With wolves increasing in number, farmers fear more frequent and devastating attacks on their herds. József points out that it takes years to train a good sheepdog, and it is unclear if this will be enough to fend off the growing wolf population. As the debate continues, the future of grey wolves in Europe hangs in the balance, with both conservationists and farmers advocating for their respective interests.
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