The German parliament passed a law drastically facilitating the culling of wolves by adding them to federal hunting regulations. The new rules, supported by the governing coalition and the AfD, end a period of strict protection that lasted for decades. The decision is a response to the rapid growth of the predator population and the increasing number of sporadic attacks on livestock, which has led to financial paralysis for many farms, particularly in northern Germany.

Wolf a Huntable Species

The German parliament formally included the wolf in the federal catalog of animals that can be legally hunted under specific conditions.

Simplification of Culling

The new regulations remove the need to individually prove the guilt of a specific animal before granting permission for its elimination.

SPD and AfD Alliance

The controversial vote united the governing coalition with the right-wing opposition, sparking a broad debate about the direction of Germany's environmental policy.

Environmentalist Protests

Organizations WWF and BUND announce they will monitor the effects of the new law and potentially file a complaint with European institutions.

The Bundestag made a historic decision to change the legal status of the wolf, moving it from the category of a strictly protected species to that of a huntable animal. The amendment to federal regulations significantly simplifies the procedure for eliminating problematic individuals, eliminating the previous cumbersome bureaucratic path. Until now, each culling required individual permission, preceded by evidence of the ineffectiveness of other herd protection methods. Now, state governments gain broad powers to regulate population numbers, which in practice means the restoration of regular hunting. Wolves were completely eradicated in Germany in the 19th century due to mass hunting and habitat destruction. The species' return began only in 2000, when the first packs migrating from Polish territory were observed in Saxony. The parliamentary vote revealed an unusual political alignment, with the governing coalition (SPD, Greens, FDP) being supported by the opposition AfD, while facing opposition from some environmental organizations. Statistics from early 2026 indicate an alarming increase in losses for sheep and cattle farmers in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein. Opponents of the reform, including WWF, emphasize that last year alone, 25 individuals were preventively killed, proving that the previous system was working. Activists warn that mass hunting could disrupt pack social structures, which paradoxically could lead to more attacks on livestock by young, inexperienced wolves. Wolf protection in Europe is based on the 1979 Bern Convention and the EU Habitats Directive, which recognize this species as crucial for preserving the biodiversity of forest ecosystems. The federal government argues that the wolf population in Germany has reached a stable level that is no longer threatened with extinction, and that the safety of residents and the stability of agriculture must become a priority. The new law stipulates that culling will be possible not only for aggressive individuals but also for the general purpose of reducing population density in a given area. States such as Bavaria have already announced a swift implementation of the regulations to protect traditional alpine grazing. Critics, however, point out that the law could be challenged before the Court of Justice of the European Union as being contrary to EU law.

Mentioned People

  • Cem Özdemir — Federal Minister of Agriculture supporting changes in predator population management.