Dusseldorf.
NRW provides funds for herd protection against wolves. This is intended to cushion the burden on pet owners. Money could flow to Schermbeck.
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia has spent around 4.5 million euros in funding for herd protection against wolves since 2018. This emerges from a submission by NRW Environment Minister Oliver Krischer (Greens) for the meeting of the parliamentary nature conservation committee on Wednesday.
The country is providing “extensive financial support to minimize the burden on animal keepers associated with the natural return of the wolf,” he said. In NRW, a good 38 percent of the state area has already been designated as wolf areas. Funding can go there. These include the four regions of Schermbeck (Link), Senne-Eggegebirge, Eifel-Hohes Venn and the Oberbergisches Land, each with surrounding buffer zones.
Safety measures for sheep, goats and wild animals
Since 2019, 5.5 million euros have already been made available in the state’s nature conservation budget for compensation under the “Wolf Funding Guideline” – for example for animal losses after attacks or for veterinary costs. However, the funding framework was not fully exhausted. (Link)
According to the list, there were also 765,000 euros in available flat rates for comprehensive livestock protection advice. According to the ministry, investments in preventive measures for sheep, goats and wild animals are 100 percent funded – for example the purchase of wolf-repellent electric fences. (Link)
161 confirmed wolf packs across Germany
The wolf has been slowly spreading since its return to Germany in 1998. According to figures from the Federal Documentation and Advice Center in Bonn on the subject of wolves, the number of officially confirmed packs in the 2021/2022 wolf year nationwide rose to 161. In the 2022/23 monitoring year, 13 wolf territories are known.
Wolves are a strictly protected species under nature protection in Germany. The Federal Nature Conservation Act only permits shooting in exceptional cases, if wolves behave aggressively when meeting people. According to the counseling center, such a case has not yet occurred. (dpa)
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