Wolf protection downgrade gets green light in EU

STRASBOURG, France: EU lawmakers on Thursday gave the green light to downgrading wolf protections in the bloc, which will allow hunting to resume under strict criteria.

Members of the Bern Convention, tasked with the protection of wildlife in Europe as well as some African countries, agreed in December to lower the wolf´s status from “strictly protected” to “protected”.

The downgrade came into force in March, and the European Commission moved immediately to revise related EU laws to reflect the change. EU lawmakers approved the move by a majority of 371 to 162, with support from conservative, centrist and hard-right groups. The law requires a formal rubber-stamp by EU member states -- which have already endorsed the text -- before entering into force, after which states will have 18 months to comply.

Green and left-wing parties voted against a change they denounce as politically motivated and lacking scientific basis, while the parliament´s socialist grouping was split on the matter.

The European Union -- as a party to the Bern Convention -- was the driving force behind the push to lower protections, arguing that the increase in wolf numbers has led to more frequent contact with humans and livestock.