Wolf hunting banned in Slovakia

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The wolf is set to become a fully protected species in Slovakia after the country implemented a total ban on hunting.

The hunting of wolves will be illegal in Slovakia from June 1, after the country finally adopted new rules that bring it into line with European Union guidelines.

“Wolves, as top predators, play a vital role in keeping nature in balance,” says Jerguš Tesák, large carnivore expert at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Slovakia, one of many environmental NGOs which has long campaigned for a ban.

“If we really want to protect wolves, we must protect them along with their habitats and movement routes. We have record numbers of deer or wild game at the moment, but a healthy wolf population also has a positive impact on the landscape. It reduces the population of deer, prevents damage of young trees and supports restoration of natural forests. There is no reason for wolf hunting in our country.”

The Danube-Carpathian region – also known as the Green Heart of Europe – is home to some two-thirds of Europe’s populations of large carnivores, including brown bears, wolves and lynx. There are now approximately 12,000 wolves in Europe (excluding Russia), of which 1,000-1,800 are found in Slovakia. 

https://emerging-europe.com/news/slovakia-finally-bans-wolf-hunting/