Wolf Petition

Mountain farming and the cultivation of pastures are particularly important in South Tyrol: for agriculture, the landscape, biodiversity, climate protection and especially for South Tyrol as a county of tourism. The rapid development of the wolf population in Italy and nearby Switzerland leads to increasing conflicts between wolves and local animals, but also between wolves and human beings. Herd protection measures are not adequate to protect the pastures due to the configuration and vast extent of the area.

The consequence is the abandonment of the cultivation of alpine pastures. Furthermore, the wolves lose their shyness coming more and more often closer to people and their residences in a threatening way. The regulation of the wolf population is essential in order to protect the mountain agriculture as well as to maintain a lively rural area, but also to guarantee the security of people living there.

Considering the strong increase of the wolf population across Europe it is necessary to rethink its high protection status. The increasing rate of cross-breeding as well as illegal takings are in contradiction with species protection laws. Regular taking will reduce both the level of hybridization and illegal taking.