Germany Reintroduces Wolf Hunting Amidst Rising Livestock Attacks
After decades of conservation efforts that led to the return of wolves to its landscapes, Germany has moved to legalize wolf hunting in response to a growing population and increasing attacks on livestock. The decision, passed by the lower house of parliament on March 5, 2026, marks a significant shift in the country’s approach to wildlife management.
A Contentious Return
Wolves were declared extinct in Germany in the 19th century, but began to re-establish themselves around the turn of the millennium. This comeback, initially celebrated as a conservation success, has become increasingly contentious as wolf numbers have risen. The return of the wolf has emerged as a divisive issue, often pitting environmentalists against farmers and rural communities.
Legislative Changes and Justification
The legislation allows hunters to kill wolves in Germany from July 1 to October 31, though individual state governments will be responsible for implementing their own wildlife management plans and determining the extent to which wolf hunting will be permitted. The move follows a change in the wolf’s protection status under EU legislation, downgraded from “strictly protected” to “protected” in 2025.
Government statistics reveal that approximately 4,300 livestock animals were killed or injured in around 1,100 wolf attacks in 2024, resulting in €23.4 million ($27.2 million) in costs for protecting herds. Proponents of the legislation, including Hermann Färber of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), argue that a new balance is needed in the German ecosystem and that the suffering of grazing animals killed by wolves is unacceptable.
Political Divisions and Opposition
The bill passed the Bundestag with the support of the centre-right governing coalition and the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party. However, it faced opposition from the Greens and the far-left Linke party, who argue that culling is not the answer and that comprehensive herd protection measures, such as fences and herd protection dogs, are needed.
The Nature And Biodiversity Conservation Union (Nabu) has urged regional states to block the legislation in the upper house, arguing that species conservation should not be sacrificed for “symbolic political action.”
Impact of the Von der Leyen Incident
The debate over the wolf’s protection status was triggered in 2022 when a wolf killed a pony belonging to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen near Hanover. Von der Leyen subsequently pushed for a review of the wolf’s protection status, which ultimately led to its downgrade.
Regional Variations and Upcoming Elections
The issue of wolf management is particularly prominent in regions with high wolf densities, such as Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, and Saxony. The vote in the Bundestag came just days before elections in Baden-Württemberg, where the leading candidate, Manuel Hagel of the CDU, has taken a hard line on wolves, stating that “buckshot and lead will support” address the perceived dangers they pose.
As of 2023/2024, Germany is home to 209 confirmed wolf packs, 36 couples, and 14 individual resident wolves, totaling over 1,600 individual wolves. Baden-Württemberg currently has four lone wolves.
Farmer Concerns and Compensation
Farmers have long called for greater control of the wolf population, citing the traumatic impact of wolf attacks on their livestock. While shepherds are generally entitled to state compensation for losses due to wolf attacks, the emotional toll of these events remains significant. Joachim Rukwied, president of the German Farmers’ Association (DBV), emphasized the agonizing death experienced by livestock during wolf attacks and the need to reduce the population to preserve grazing livestock farming.