Downgrading, low numbers and a new "quota" to kill... When breeders and hunters want wolves dead
While the international protection status of wolves has been abruptly downgraded, the number of “permits” to kill them has just been released for the year 2025. Intensive farmers are crying foul because the maximum number of wolves to be killed is lower than last year. What cynicism when we know how vulnerable and threatened these animals are on all sides.
Their population is dwindling? Let’s kill even more!
Their fate was seriously jeopardized on Tuesday December 3, when the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention voted to downgrade their species, which was “strictly protected” until then. Political institutions have given in to the tearful calls of agricultural lobbies and hunters who have no intention of sharing nature with wild animals.
As if that weren’t enough, the same people are still complaining about the December 12 announcement of the quota of wolves authorized to be killed in 2025: 192 of them can be shot with the approval of the authorities. A few days earlier, some were still calling for more. In other words, these wolves, like the hundreds that preceded them, are already doomed. Although the limit set is slightly lower than that for 2024 (209 individuals), the aim is still to allow wolves to be systematically massacred, at a time when packs are already extremely fragile and their numbers (1013) are clearly declining (1104 counted last September)… A (re)count that was, and still is, the subject of debate…
Lobbies dance on the bodies of wolves
By firmly opting to downgrade wolf protection, the member States of the European Council, led by France, have sworn their doom, preferring to kneel before the agricultural and hunting lobbies. This situation, which we have always denounced, can no longer continue! Not only do lethal shootings not limit the number of attacks, but they only aggravate the problems by dispersing packs and leaving many orphans by the wayside.
Yet, solutions for harmonious cohabitation do exist: all that’s needed is for breeders to agree to properly protect the animals they raise. 84% of French people deplore the fact that attacks occur on unprotected flocks. But those who fatten animals prefer to blame the wolves rather than take responsibility, which One Voice frequently takes to court.
We are already exploring all possibilities with our international partners to counter this appalling decision, which is also devoid of any scientific basis.