The European Union is changing the status of wolves from “strictly protected” to “protected” as their numbers grow and conflicts with agriculture and humans increase, but it’s a change that also involves political conflict.
The measure, which is nearly through the several steps needed for approval, would allow member nations to take more measures to control wolf population around urban areas and areas where they are considered predators by sheep farmers among others.
But the debate, both public and in the European Parliament has taken on a political tinge as well. The change was largely supported by conservative, centrist and hard-right groupings, while Green and left-wing parties see it as lacking scientific data and politically motivated. The parliament’s socialist grouping split on the issue.
Nearly extinct for a century, wolf populations across Europe have revived under protection over the past ten years.
Image by Marcel Langthim from Pixabay
