German minister orders problem wolves to be shot

 

BERLIN – German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke has suggested “problem wolves” be shot, as their population increases and takes a growing toll on livestock in the country.

German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke has suggested “problem wolves” be shot, as their population increases and takes a growing toll on livestock in the country.

“Shooting wolves that have learned to climb over higher fences or that approach humans too closely is possible and can be carried out by the states in accordance with the law. This possibility should be used more in the future,” Lemke told Saturday’s edition of the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung newspaper.

“We want to ensure that the procedures are less bureaucratic and more practical,” the Green Party member said.

If these “problem” wolves are not dealt with, support for protecting the wolf population as a whole will dwindle, she warned.

Wolves, which were nearly hunted to extinction in Germany, are strictly protected under the law. However, permission for shooting them can be granted in some exceptional cases, such as behaving aggressively toward people.

The political debate over wolves has heated up as their numbers increase in the north and east of Germany.

Lemke emphasized that she supported protecting the wolves, but that it was also important to find a balance between conservation and farming.

“We have to learn to live with the wolf again. If we as humans claim that we are the only ones who are allowed to claim nature on this planet, then it will become very, very lonely for us,” Lemke told the paper.

Lemke said said she supports compensation payments for farmers and shepherds whose livelihoods have been impacted by wolves.

Livestock keepers in Germany also qualify for generous state subsidies for protection of livestock, mainly sheep and goats, employing protective means like electric fences and herding dogs.