While animal rights activists are happy about the widespread wolf population in Austria, farmers’ representatives are calling for the simplified wolf hunt that was recently enforced by law in Switzerland.
“The change in the law in Switzerland shows that certain animal protection organizations are completely wrong. They, in particular, have always referred to Swiss herd protection – how well it works,” rants the President of the Chamber of Agriculture Siegfried Huber. “Herd protection is useless.” where millions of euros have been invested in herd protection projects, the wolf problem can only be solved with hunting.” However, the intervention must not endanger the population.28 Wolves were genetically detected in Carinthia this year. 400 livestock killed and 450 livestock missing after wolf attacks are the balance of this year. About 2/3 of the cracks happened on alpine pastures, 1/3 on Heimweiden in the valley. Austria’s hands are tied with such a change in the law. “Switzerland has it easy, as it is not a member of the EU and does not have to comply with the Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive. As long as nothing is done by law across the EU, the wolf will also continue to be protected,” adds Member of the National Council Peter Weidinger. “Several million euros are being invested in livestock protection, dogs and shepherds – but this is not a long-term solution, just an attempt to minimize the number of cracks a little.”
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