Ulvetid has filed a formal complaint with the European Commission protesting the Danish government's decision to allow individuals to hunt wolves on their private land in the Uxbühl region, according to local media.
Olvitad's complaints to the European Commission
Ulvetid believes that allowing individuals to hunt wolves violates Denmark's obligations under the EU Natural Habitats Directive.
The organization explained in its complaint to the European Commission that a decision issued by the Green Land and Aquatic Environment Reorganisation Authority (Styrelsen for Grøn Arealomlægning og Vandmiljø) allows private owners to apply for wolf hunting permits within the “regulation zone” around Uxbühl.
Background to the decision and circumstances surrounding the spread of wolves
The decision was made after several incidents in the Uxbühl area where wolves approached humans in a disturbing manner, and a recent report suggested the possibility that people were actively feeding wolves.
The Green Land and Aquatic Environment Reorganisation Authority (Styrelsen for Grøn Arealomlægning og Vandmiljø) initiated the issuance of permits to individuals in order to “complement ongoing regulatory efforts on state lands,” as the authority explained to the DR website.
Private hunting permits for citizens
Citizens who have a hunting license have the right to apply for a permit to regulate the number of wolves on their private land, provided that their land belongs to the regulation area, which includes Oxbühl-Oxby, Oxbüh and Standviers, according to the authority.
Criticisms of Olli Pedersen, head of the Olvitaid organization
“They are allowing a large number of people who are unable to distinguish between species to go into the forests and hunt wolves,” said Ole Pedersen, head of the Ulvetid organization.
“We fear that citizens and private landlords will hunt the parents of wolves instead of the individuals causing the problem, who are most likely the large cubs, and this will exacerbate the situation instead of solving it,” added Ole Pedersen.
Green Land and Aquatic Environment Reorganisation Authority Permit
The Green Land and Aquatic Environment Reorganisation Authority (Styrelsen for Grøn Arealomlægning og Vandmiljø) declined to be interviewed by DR, but issued a statement saying: “The wolf problem regulation is in line with the requirements of natural citizen guidance. To complement the regulation efforts on state lands, citizens can apply for a permit to regulate the wolf problem on their private lands within the regulation area around Uxbühl.”
The authority added that the permits granted to individuals primarily apply to wolves that approach within 30 meters of humans, and this distance can be extended after assessing each case around urban areas.
The Nature Agency (Naturstyrelsen) completed its role by granting hunting licenses to the government's regulatory team to deal with "trouble wolves" before extending the order to individuals.
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