European Wolves Face Reduced Protections Starting 2025

Starting March 7, 2025, wolves in Europe will lose some of their strict protections, allowing for increased regulation of hunting and population control. This decision follows a vote by European countries to downgrade wolves’ Conservation status under the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats. The shift moves wolves from “strictly protected” to “protected,” enabling measures to control populations while aiming to avoid endangerment.

The decision, driven by the rising wolf population and its impact on farming, was endorsed by the EU Commission, with President Ursula von der Leyen stating, “We need a balanced approach between the preservation of wildlife and the protection of our livelihoods.” Von der Leyen, whose pony was killed by a wolf in 2022, had previously urged member states to address conflicts between wolves and rural communities.

While local farming groups welcomed the move, environmental organizations expressed concern. The International Fund for Animal Welfare warned that the decision “represents a dangerous step backwards for biodiversity and sets a worrying precedent for wildlife Conservation in Europe.”

Unless at least a third of the 46 member states object, the updated protections will take effect in early March, signaling a new chapter in the debate over coexistence between humans and predators in Europe.

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