Wolves in Slovakia have been hunted for the last time: predators to be protected for a whole year

Jana

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Bratislava - The state allowed hunt of 50 wolves for the last time, but in reality this quota has not been fulfilled. 39 wolves were hunted between November last year and first half of January. It was the last hunting season, because wolf is now a protected species in Slovakia during a whole year, hunters can´t kill them anymore.

Protected status for wolf should have started as of 1th of January 2021 already, but dispute proceedings between ministry of environment and ministry of agriculture started only at 7th of January.

Next hunting season won´t happen. Wolf is now protected for a whole year in Slovakia. Under new laws, only selected individual wolves can be shot, but hunters would need a special permit.

"It´s an important step for nature protection" said Jerguš Tesák, member of WWF Slovakia, who was cited by Česká televize. Tesák means wolf protection will help to reduce overpopulation of wild boar and this will help local forests.

But wolves also attack sheep. According to sheep farmers association, wolves cause damaged of half a million euros annually. The state pays compensation for damages and with new strict decree (to protect wolves), the whole processing of compensations should get easier. The decree also promises funds to build electric fences and finances for guardian dogs. Current estimates put wolf population in Slovakia between 5-7.000 animals.

Link to the original article.
 
Something to celebrate and probably in coming years wolves will start settling over into the Czech Republic from this source population more frequently.

I find the rationale of sheep farmers expecting compensation from government without protective measures for their flocks somewhat curious. In fairness, it is the owner who has duty of care and to ensure his livestock are adequately secured. Can you explain?

BTW: the predation by wolves on livestock, essentially sheep and goats, in some German states has been quantified as being below 0,0xx percent. The majority of dead animals are "produced" daily by those that fall by the wayside on any farm - which is a topic never discussed publicly for fear what it would create -.
 
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