Breakthrough Decision by Bundestag: Wolves Designated as Huntable Species in Germany

The historic vote in the Bundestag, held on March 5, 2026, formally ended the era of strict protection for the gray wolf in Germany. The adopted law introduces a fundamental legal change: the wolf has been officially added to the list of huntable species. Previous regulations, based on strict EU guidelines, only allowed the culling of specific "problematic" individuals after a complicated evidentiary procedure. The new reform significantly simplifies these rules, giving the governments of individual states real tools for the preventive reduction of the population. Importantly, the changes were voted for not only by the coalition of SPD, Greens, and FDP but also by the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD), underscoring the significance of the problem for rural residents. The gray wolf was almost completely eradicated in Central Europe at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The recolonization of Germany by these predators began naturally around the year 2000, when the first individuals migrated from Polish territory to Upper Lusatia in Saxony. The main impetus for the amendment was alarming statistical data regarding losses in livestock numbers. In the first months of 2026, a sharp increase in the number of sheep killed was recorded, particularly in Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg. Farmers argued that previous protective measures, such as high fences and guard dogs, had become ineffective against the growing determination and numbers of packs. The Ministry of the Environment emphasizes that the wolf population in Germany is already strong enough that controlled culling does not threaten the survival of the species at the national level. Wolf protection at the international level is regulated by the Berne Convention and the EU Habitats Directive, which classifies this species as requiring strict protection, which may soon lead to a legal dispute between Berlin and the European Commission. Berlin's decision provoked immediate opposition from environmental organizations. Representatives of WWF point out that just last year, 25 wolves were preventively killed in accordance with the previous, more restrictive procedures. Activists warn that mass hunting could lead to destabilization of the social structure of packs. Removing dominant individuals often leads to the breakup of a group, after which young, inexperienced wolves begin to attack easy targets like sheep more frequently, instead of wild game. Meanwhile, states like Bavaria have already announced the rapid implementation of the new regulations to protect traditional alpine grazing. „Dies ist ein wichtiger Schritt zum Schutz unserer Hirten und Landwirte, während gleichzeitig die ökologische Sicherheit gewahrt bleibt.” (This is an important step to protect our shepherds and farmers, while at the same time ensuring ecological safety.) — Federal Minister for the Environment