Germany’s lower house of parliament has passed a controversial bill that could allow the hunting of wolves in certain parts of the country, marking a major shift in wildlife policy and intensifying debate between farmers, politicians and conservation groups. The move comes amid growing concern over attacks on livestock and the rapid expansion of wolf populations in several regions.
The legislation, approved by the Bundestag, would permit German states to authorise hunting of wolves between July and October in areas where the animals are considered overly abundant. In addition, wolves that have previously attacked or killed farm animals could be culled throughout the year regardless of their conservation status. The bill still requires approval from the Bundesrat, Germany’s upper chamber of parliament, before it can take effect nationwide.
Supporters of the measure argue that it is necessary to restore a balance between wildlife protection and the interests of farmers whose animals are increasingly threatened by wolf attacks. According to official figures, about 4,300 livestock—mostly sheep and goats—were killed or injured by wolves in Germany in 2024, a statistic frequently cited by lawmakers advocating stronger population control measures.
Proponents within the centre-right political bloc and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party backed the proposal, saying that the suffering of farm animals cannot be ignored. Some lawmakers have argued that the killings of grazing animals by wolves amount to severe welfare concerns for livestock and that rural communities have been demanding decisive action from the government. The issue has become particularly sensitive in eastern parts of Germany, where wolf populations are more concentrated and farming communities report higher levels of conflict with the predators.
However, the legislation has triggered strong opposition from environmental groups and several political parties. Lawmakers from the Greens and the Left party voted against the measure, warning that weakening protections for wolves could undermine decades of conservation progress. Wolves had been eradicated from Germany over a century ago but began returning in the late 20th century, a development widely celebrated by conservationists as a major ecological success.
Animal welfare organisations and environmental campaigners argue that culling wolves is not the most effective way to address livestock losses. Instead, they advocate stronger preventive measures such as installing electric fencing, improving livestock enclosures and using guard dogs to deter predators. Groups such as the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) have urged regional governments to reject the bill when it reaches the Bundesrat, saying that wildlife conservation should not be sacrificed for short-term political gain.
The debate has also been influenced by broader changes at the European level. The European Union recently eased the protection status of wolves, allowing member states greater flexibility in managing their populations as numbers grow across the continent. The controversy intensified after a widely publicised incident in 2022 in which a wolf killed a pony owned by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, prompting renewed calls to reassess existing protections.
The issue has increasingly become a political flashpoint in Germany, particularly in the run-up to regional elections. Some politicians have used the wolf debate to highlight rural concerns and portray themselves as defenders of farmers’ livelihoods, even in regions where wolf sightings remain relatively rare. As the legislation awaits final approval, Germany finds itself at the centre of a broader European discussion over how to balance wildlife conservation with the economic realities faced by rural communities.
If passed by the Bundesrat, the law would represent one of the most significant policy changes in Germany’s management of large predators in decades, signalling a shift from strict protection toward active population control. The outcome will likely influence wildlife management debates across Europe, where wolf numbers have been steadily increasing and tensions between conservation goals and agricultural interests continue to grow.
