Culling of young wolves in Lahn-Dill district halted again

The controversial plan to cull young wolves in Germany's Lahn-Dill district has been temporarily suspended again, following a court order. The Kassel Administrative Court had initially rejected urgent appeals from nature conservation groups against the Hessian wolf management plan. However, the administrative authority in Kassel has now halted the execution of parts of the decree, which allowed for the culling of young wolves, until a higher court makes a decision.

The Hessian Administrative Court of Appeal is expected to rule on the ongoing appeals. The suspension means that the culling of juvenile wolves in the Lahn-Dill district is not permitted for the time being. The decree, which was issued on June 30, allows for the culling of four juvenile wolves in the district during the hunting season from July 1 to October 31. Two wolves have already been found dead, leaving the possibility of culling two more.

The Hessian wolf management plan has faced significant opposition from environmentalists, who are outraged by the provision allowing up to 40% of young wolves to be culled per hunting season. The state, however, argues that the plan is necessary for the protection of livestock farmers and represents a lawful management of the wolf population. The wolf was officially added to Germany's federal hunting law in March, allowing states to permit hunting in regions where the wolf population is considered to be in a favorable state of conservation.