France authorises culling of 200 wolves to curb livestock attacks, as Agriculture Minister cites rising stress and damage to farms.

PARIS: French authorities have authorised the culling of around 200 wolves to protect livestock. Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard announced the decision on Friday, citing the spread of wolf packs into farmlands and near large cities.

She stated that a little more than 1,000 wolves are present in France. The government has increased the culling limit to 21% of the population, from an earlier 19%, which equates to just over 200 animals.

“The wolf is causing increasing damage to our livestock farms, plunging farmers into a state of stress and even terrible pain,” Genevard told French radio station France Inter. The limit could be increased again to 23% in the future.

The move follows an acrimonious debate pitting farmers against animal protection groups. European lawmakers voted last May to downgrade the wolf’s status from “strictly protected” to “protected”.

This change allows EU countries to authorise wolf hunting. They must still take steps to prevent the animals from becoming endangered.

The European Commission said its proposal was based on an in-depth analysis. It noted wolf populations are increasing across the EU, with around 20,300 animals present in 2023.

This growth has led to increased damage to livestock. In France, populations are rising and packs are spreading into areas they left centuries ago.

Genevard highlighted the central region of Haute-Marne as an example. Located just 60 kilometres from cities like Nancy, farmers there reported 850 sheep were killed by wolves last year.

 The Sun Malaysia