Why EU leaders talk about wolves
17 June 2024
Wolf populations have rebounded across Europe in the past 20 years. While wolves pose no real threat to humans, their inclination to kill livestock like sheep and cattle has made them the target of farming and hunting lobbies, which have worked hard to relax hunting protections in the EU and various member states. Ursula von der Leyen herself has repeatedly called for a review of wolves’ protection. Her move appears to also have some personal motive – her pet pony was reportedly killed by a wolf on her property in Germany.
Research on the topic disagrees with the anti-wolf rhetoric, as it has shown that hunting wolves isn't an effective method for reducing livestock loss. But for conservative and populist leaders, it has become an easy issue to gain votes within some rural regions.
 | Paul Krantz EU voters living in urban centres might rightly wonder why the 'wolf issue' gets so much attention in European politics. Most European residents have never seen a wolf, but the topic is divisive and allows politicians to pander to farmers' concerns. Yet, the most effective method for preventing livestock losses is herd protection – such as electric fences. I visited a sheep farmer in Bavaria who explained that he has no interest in killing wolves. He would prefer policy leaders to support him with funding for herd protections, for example. |
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