The Federal Minister for the Environment, Steffi Lemke, is calling for the shooting of wolves that repeatedly attack livestock to be made less complicated.

"In cases where wolves repeatedly attack farm animals, the shooting should be uncomplicated and quickly feasible," the Green minister expressed in the daily newspaper Die Welt. "It is tragic when numerous sheep are killed. This is an enormous burden for grazing animal farmers. Therefore, we should offer them more security and support," she stressed, promising concrete proposals for the end of September.

A recent incident in Stade, Lower Saxony, may be the catalyst for these remarks. There, 55 sheep were killed or seriously injured by a suspected wolf attack. Despite a protective fence erected by the shepherd, the wolves were able to attack the sheep. It is believed that a pack of wolves was responsible.

With this statement, Lemke is moving closer to the FDP position, which has been calling for better protection for grazing animals for some time. The coalition agreement also mentions an effort to make the coexistence of grazing animals, humans and wolves harmonious in order to minimize conflicts despite the growing wolf population. "It is time to act," FDP parliamentary group vice chair Carina Konrad said recently.

The position paper of the FDP underlines the need for a modern approach to wolves. In the process, European legislation should be adapted so that the wolf population in Germany is brought to a balanced level.

After the attack on the flock of sheep, Lower Saxony's Minister President Stephan Weil also wants to push for a relaxation of hunting rules for aggressive wolves at the EU level. He stressed to Die Welt that EU regulations should not be set in such a way that they prevent necessary regional measures.