Sheep Breeders Association Rejects Setting a Wolf Culling Target - "Sheep Farmers Association advocates against mandatory vaccinations for wolves"
In the heart of Brandenburg, Germany, a contentious debate is unfolding within the Ministry of Agriculture's Wolf-Plenum. The discussion centres around easing wolf culling regulations, with opposing views between the State Hunting Association, who advocate for population reduction and quotas, and conservation groups like BUND and NABU, who emphasise prevention and herd protection.
At the forefront of the conservationists is Christiane SchrΓΆder, the state manager of Nabu in Brandenburg, who asserts that hunting wolves does not solve the actual problem. She is joined by Carsten PreuΓ, the state chairman of BUND, who supports the idea of culling individual wolves in exceptional cases, but not a blanket cull quota for the wolf.
On the other side of the argument, Gregor Beyer, a former state secretary, has proposed a cull quota for wolves. This proposal has been met with resistance from conservation groups, who argue that it is a short-sighted solution. The Berlin-Brandenburg Sheep Breeders' Association, led by Jonas Scholz, also opposes a cull quota for wolves, advocating instead for adequate protection measures for herds.
The culling of wolves is already regulated, but it is reportedly lengthy in implementation. Scholz, who represents the sheep farmers, states that if a herd is adequately protected with fencing and dogs, wolves will hunt wild game instead. However, he laments that the cost of such protection measures is high, and the federal government is currently not releasing European funds for herd protection due to lack of budgetary resources.
The focus, according to both conservation groups and farmers, is on adequate protection measures for herds, not on reducing the wolf population. Scholz compares wolf attacks to "terror attacks" for a herd, but he acknowledges that wolves are opportunists, and a cull quota is not herd protection.
The long-standing dispute with nature conservation associations and animal welfare organisations continues in the Wolf Plenum. The Sheep Breeders' Association, however, clarifies that the wolf is not specifically targeted by their statement. Instead, they call for full funding for herd protection measures like fencing and guard dogs.
The Ministry of Agriculture has been discussing the handling of the wolf since September, aiming to find a balanced solution that addresses the concerns of both farmers and conservationists. As the debate rages on, it remains to be seen how Brandenburg will navigate this complex issue.
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