The fact that the latest ECJ judgment regarding Estonia will have a positive impact on wolf regulation was highlighted today at a press conference at the Austria Chamber of Agriculture. During the university professor and wolf rights expert in Switzerland Roland Norer The legal developments presented LK Austria President Josef Moosbrugger demands based on this in the sense of agriculture and society. The Swiss wildlife biologist and author Marcel Züger In turn, the existence and condition of this predator in Europe discussed and, in his view, dealt with little practicable herd protection. Organic farmer Anna Gwehenberger underlined these statements through their experience from practice.
Zwl.: Realistic definition of the state of preservation was longstanding LKÖ claim
“As soon as the alpine summer has started in Austria, around 250 sheep had to be brought back to their home companies on Seducker Hochalm in the Tyrolean Stubai Valley. This current example clearly shows why it is so important that movement has come into the possibilities for wolf regulation and comes even more- in the sense of the alpine pasture and pasture economy and the entire society that benefits from its services,” reported Moosbrugger.
“In our view, it is very important and positive that the favorable state of preservation, according to the latest ECJ decision, cannot be interpreted as strictly, as previously assumed by the General Directorate of the EU Commission. The judgment corresponds to our long-term demand that-as in Sweden-in addition to the wildlife biology, social and economic aspects and necessities must also be considered. LKÖ President, who now sees increased opportunities for wolf regulation as part of the hunting laws of the federal states. “This is important and correct. It cannot be that something always has to happen and countless forms have to be filled in before we can protect our farm animals,” demands Moosbrugger.
Zwtl.: Wolf rights expert sees a basic change in the legal situation and possibilities
The university professor, wolf rights expert and author Roland Norer, who lives and teaches in Switzerland, also locates better intervention options. Sometimes similar topography and small -scale agriculture can be found there, but the wolf has formed packs around ten years earlier and became a problem factor, which is why Austria is happy to experience experience with Swiss wolf regulation. “With the lowering of the protection status of wolves from ‘strictly protected’ to ‘protected’ ‘on’ protected ‘in May 2025 and the ECJ judgments in Tyrol and Estonia from July 2024 and June 2025, the legal situation has changed fundamentally. Due to the protection status reduction, the federal states can continue to extend regulatory measures up to inventory regulation in the future,” said Norer.
“The federal states have sufficient scope for such measures. The requirements of the economy, society and culture as well as the regional and local peculiarities can expressly be taken into account within the limits of the favorable state of preservation. This means that the state authorities can now take parameters such as acceptance from the population, preservation of the alpine pasture and economic aspects as well as the proportionality of herd protection and suitability of the cultural area,” said Norer.
Zwtl.: Public interest in the alpine pasture is upgraded-protection level such as Capricorn
“In the considerations of the interests, which the authorities have to be carried out, the public interest in protecting a ‘mere’ protected animal species, for example, loses weight in the preservation of the alpine pasture. Labor, and in countries with a small natural habitat, also take into account the subpopulations in neighboring member or third countries.
Zwtl.: Swiss wildlife biologist sees cheap state of conservation “more than achieved”
The Swiss wildlife biologist and author of the book “Man, Wolf!”, Marcel Züger, is also convinced that the favorable state of preservation of Canis lupus More than reached throughout Europe: “Around 60,000 wolves live in Europe. Usually a number of 23,000 is mentioned. However, this inventory only refers to the EU countries plus Switzerland and the Balkans. The continent of Europe up to the Urals houses around 60,000 copies. The stocks are networked by migratory movements and form a single, Europe-wide population. The favorable state of preservation for this type is more than achieved across Europe. “
Züger continues to underline the indispensable importance of grazing and balancing, also for keeping the landscape open, which in turn is decisive for the preservation of many important, often only occurring animal and plant species: “The Austrian Alpine region has a uniquely high number of endemites across Europe. Examples are the Carinthian cow step, which only occurs on a handful of alpine pastures, and the Innsbrucker Kitchen clamp, which is limited to three lean grass. ” The wolf is therefore not only dangerous for alpine pastures, but also for biodiversity, Züger is convinced.
Zwtl.: Züger: Too high biological collateral damage from various herd protection measures
“The grazing is indispensable on many, valuable areas. However, the protection goals are damaged with herd protection, the available measures are not a suitable way out. In the mountain area, the technical feasibility is not only extremely complex. Measures such as fences are also prone to errors and are also regularly overcome by wolves when performed. Wild animals are affected by the fences.
Zwtl.: Bio -farmer: grazing also important for avalanche protection, tourism and prosperity
Bio-farmer Anna Gwehenberger, who, together with her family, with a 15 ha operation with a small alpine pasture, 12 cattle and some goats in the “Wolfshotspot” region Grandarl, Salzburg, cultivated, added in her video statement-due to the ongoing Huri-how important the grazing of the alpine pastures is also for avalanche protection, tourism and thus security and prosperity. She reported situations in which pregnant cows and calves were driven into the ditch and a bent but lively goat had to be found. “This is cruelty to animals and nothing else,” said Gwehenberger.
On the one hand, she was very happy and grateful that the wolf’s protection status was reduced. On the other hand, she appealed: “It would still be important if it works even more unbureaucratic. We want something bad to happen before a wolf can be removed. In my opinion, the hunting law has to change.” She also considers herd protection – whether with fences or dogs – in her small -structured, rocky and tourist -shaped region to be completely impractical and unfinancable. (Ending)