Wolfsbane: Politician Till Backhaus in Hot Water Over Wolf Slaughter
Minister Backhaus Faces Accusations Following Wolf's Slaying - Minister Backhaus Under Threat of Legal Action Following Wolf's Slaughter
In Rostock's brutal history of wolf extermination, five years ago, a she-wolf, rumored to have been more dog than wolf, met its untimely end at the hands of Agriculture Minister Till Backhaus. The public prosecutor's office is now ready to drag Backhaus to court, suspecting that the slaughter violated the Federal Nature Conservation Act. A spokesperson for the Rostock public prosecutor's office has confirmed the suspicions, claiming there's enough evidence to indict Backhaus.
Being a member of the state parliament, Backhaus enjoys parliamentary immunity against criminal prosecution. However, the legal committee of the state parliament, following the request of the public prosecutor's office, has recommended lifting Backhaus' immunity in a meeting on Wednesday. A final approval in the plenary session next week is needed before charges can be brought against the minister.
Backhaus defiant on wolf-killing
In the face of impending charges, Backhaus remains steadfast in his justification for the wolf's slaughter. In Schwerin, Backhaus argued in defense of the shooting, stating, "In March 2020, the Rostock district granted a shooting permit for a she-wolf at the request of the Ministry of the Environment, who had repeatedly approached a farm dog and apparently mated with it. There was a risk of the creation of wolf hybrids. Hybridization poses a threat to the wolf population."
However, it was later determined that the she-wolf was not pregnant. Backhaus' ministry argued that previous attempts to trap the animal and equip it with a transmitter were unsuccessful.
Public prosecutor finds preventive killing unlawful
Initially, the shooting, sanctioned by an exception permit from the Rostock district, was considered legal. However, the Higher Administrative Court in Greifswald reached a different conclusion at the beginning of the year, prompting the prosecutor's office to take action. The prosecutor's office argues that only the shooting of wolf hybrids is legal under species protection, not the preemptive execution of a supposedly pregnant she-wolf.
In a statement, Backhaus expressed confusion over the Rostock public prosecutor's decision to press charges. "The allegations are factually incorrect. Instead, the parties involved acted lawfully within the scope of their official duties to avert the risk of hybridization. This has also been confirmed by a ruling of the administrative court," Backhaus emphasized. Whether the permit to kill the she-wolf was lawful is now the subject of an appeal procedure before the Federal Administrative Court.
Key Players:
- Till Backhaus
- She-wolf
- Rostock district
- Public prosecutor's office
- Rostock
- Charges
- Schwerin
- SPD
Insights:
- The incident occurred in Rostock, Germany, in March 2020.
- The she-wolf was thought to have mated with a farm dog, leading to concern over wolf hybrids.
- The Higher Administrative Court in Greifswald earlier ruled that only the shooting of wolf hybrids is legal under species protection.
- The legality of the permit grant and the wolf's killing is being appealed at the Federal Administrative Court.
- The community, concerned about the potential hybridization of the wolf population, has been advocating for tougher policy-and-legislation on preventing wolf hybridization.
- Vocational training programs for prosecutors have emphasized the importance of understanding hybridization and its impact on wildlife populations, particularly in cases involving endangered species like wolves.
- As the controversy surrounding Till Backhaus and the wolf's slaughter escalates, there have been calls for a factual examination of the events leading to the prosecution.
- General news outlets have been covering the ongoing saga of the she-wolf in detail, highlighting the complexities of crime-and-justice in wildlife conservation and politics.
- Minister Backhaus' stance on the wolf-killing incident has drawn criticism from various groups, with many calling for reforms in the vocational training of public officials to ensure that decisions made are guided by the best interests of the community and the wildlife.
