Bill: government agrees on the subject of Wolf

when may be shot down by a Wolf in Germany? It was a long fight. Now there is an agreement - on a lighter launch. The draft law should be approved by the Cabinet.

After more than one year of wrestling there is in the Federal government, an agreement on a lighter firing of wolves. But the Wolf will stay a strictly protected species, said the Federal environment Minister, Svenja Schulze. The template should be decided by the Cabinet.

The draft stipulates, inter alia, that, in the future, according to wolf cracks then wolves shot may be, if it is not clear which animal has exactly bites. And until there are no further cracks. This can also mean that a whole pack is shot. However, each launch must be approved in advance by the country authorities.

"Serious damage" to Livestock farmers

in the Future, serious damage should be enough for Livestock farmers as a basis for approval. So far, the affected animal had to be threatened holder in its existence.

The draft law will help to enable the Coexistence of Wolf and livestock pasture in Germany, said Schulze. "We have responded to the Concerns on the spot. Where there is a Problem, we solve it. And where there is none, applies to the protection of species fully."

Klöckner wanted to wolf-free zones

Minister of agriculture, Julia Klöckner (CDU) did not prevail with the demand for wolf-free zones. In such a shooting of wolves would be without the occasion possible. Schulze had repeatedly pointed out that this would be the rules, neither with German nor with European and international species protection compatible.

The government has agreed: to facilitate the launch of the wolf.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern environment Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) said that even with the countries-coordinated new rules should simplify the shooting of wolves "and in a legally secure way". It was a "good first step," said lower Saxony's environment Minister, Olaf Lies (SPD), he pushed on with further elaboration.

criticism from environmental groups and hunters

in Both environmental groups as well as hunters and the farmers Association have the draft criticized. The environmental Association BUND spoke of an "attack on the types of protection". The FEDERAL expert Olaf Bandt fears that in the future it will be possible "to run on suspicion of the entire local pack to shoot down". In addition, this could also have an impact on other rare species such as the Kingfisher, crane and otter. To avoid problems with wolves, has urged the FEDERAL priority on better herd protection.

in Germany, formerly extinct Predator spreads for years, especially in Eastern and Northern Germany. While the German hunting Association of more than 1000 animals speak, the Federal Ministry for the environment of around 400 wolves.