Wildlife commission lowers European wolf protections

STRASBOURG, France: European countries on Tuesday approved downgrading the protection status of the wolf, a move activists say will upset the recovery made by the species over the past 10 years after near extinction a century ago.

The 49 member states of the Bern Convention charged with the protection of wildlife in Europe and some African countries agreed to lower the wolf´s protection status from “strictly protected” to “protected”, the Council of Europe said.

Grey wolves were virtually exterminated in Europe 100 years ago but their numbers have practically doubled to the current population of 20,300, triggering howls of protest from farmers angered at livestock losses.

Demoting wolves to a “protected” species would allow hunting to resume under strict regulation, a move activists fear could result in a large number of the species being shot dead.

“We need a balanced approach between the preservation of wildlife and the protection of our livelihoods,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen who has strongly backed the lowering of the protection.