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Within a year: number of wolf packs in Germany increased significantly

2019-12-02T13:32:21.641Z


The wolf continues to spread. Nationwide live about 105 pack, shows a current evaluation. In three federal states, individual animals first settled.



Twenty years ago, the wolves returned to Germany and have since spread. At present, about 105 wolf packs live in Germany, as shown by the current Wolfsmonitoring 2018/2019 of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the Federation's documentation and advice center on the subject of wolf (DBBW).

Accordingly, most of the strictly protected animals are in an area that spreads from the Saxon Lausitz in northwestern direction. Most wolf packs live in Brandenburg (41), followed by Saxony (22) and Lower Saxony (21). A wolf pack usually consists of three to eleven animals - the parents and descendants of the last two years. In addition, there are 25 recorded wolf couples and 13 sedentary single wolves. Overall, experts estimate the entire population at 275 to 301 adult animals.

For the first time since the species was exterminated in Germany, also individual locally true wolves in Baden-Württemberg , Rhineland-Palatinate , North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein have been recorded.

Federal Agency for Nature Conservation

More dead animals found

Thus, the number of packs increased significantly, but the couples declined: In the previous monitoring year 2017/18 had been nationwide 77 pack, 40 pairs and three single wolves detected. The monitoring year lasts from 1 May to 30 April.

According to the latest report, not only has the number of wolves increased, but also more dead animals have been found. In the current study period, there were a total of 99 cases, previously the number was 61. "More than half of the 83 wolves killed by traffic were puppies," said BfN President Beate Jessel. The number of illegal killings has also risen: from six to eight.

Nobody can say exactly for how many packs of wolves there is in Germany. The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) in 2009 called the number of 440 packs that could live in Germany. According to a model calculation of the University of Freiburg could live in this country 1200 pack. (Here you can read more about it.)

more on the subject

Growing predator populationHow many wolves tolerate the land?

The German Hunting Association (DJV) criticized that in Germany already established a wolf population, which is far above what is allowed in other European countries as a total stock. In neighboring France, for example, an upper limit of 500 wolves is set.

Current regulation in Germany

The wolf is strictly protected throughout the EU and, according to a recent ECJ judgment, may only be shot if there is no alternative. However, individual countries may make exceptions if they do not endanger the wolf population.

For example, since May wolves may be shot at in Germany if they threaten livestock. Also animals, which had approached people again and again, were already released in Germany for firing. Meanwhile, the German Hunting Association demands that the species be included in hunting law.

Farmers also fear for their livestock. They were promised more aid. The federal states currently expect more than 14 million euros for pasture protection fences, compensation payments for cracks and monitoring projects.

The risk of people being attacked by a wolf, however, is low. Since wolves once again live in Germany, no incident has been documented in which one of the animals has shown itself to be aggressive towards a human being.

Source: spiegel

All tech articles on 2019-12-02

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