The amended Federal Hunting Act makes wolf hunting easier. In Lower Saxony, the state agriculture ministry has presented a management plan that defines the framework for culls. The goal is better protection of grazing livestock.
A rapid cull is possible if an expert commissioned by the Chamber of Agriculture confirms that a wolf has caused damage despite reasonable herd protection measures. The ministry then designates the hunting area, and the hunting period can last up to six weeks. The hunt ends as soon as one wolf has been shot.
After three damage incidents in a wolf territory, an intervention zone can be established where an entire pack may be removed. The hunt ends with the removal of the pack or when the maximum number of wolves that can be taken is reached. In Lower Saxony, there are nearly 60 reproductive packs and around 600 wolves; the population grows by five to ten percent annually.
In early May, around 70 sheep were killed and another 70 injured in Füchtenfeld (Grafschaft Bentheim) over two nights – the largest documented wolf attack in Lower Saxony. However, the two wolves there that were authorized for culling cannot be shot because the new regulation does not apply retroactively and the district’s exceptional permit expired on June 15.
Source: www.ndr.de
