Minister Backhaus under Fire for Wolf Killing: Legal Troubles Brewing Over She-Wolf Shooting Incident
Following the wolf's slaying, Minister Backhaus faces accusations of wrongdoing - Minster Backhaus threatens legal action following wolf's alleged slaughter
In a controversial turn of events, Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, is facing potential charges for the shooting of a she-wolf in the Rostock district, five years ago. A Rostock prosecution spokesperson has confirmed that there is enough suspicion to push for a court trial, alleging a breach of the Federal Nature Conservation Act. Indications suggest Minister Backhaus influenced the issuance of an exemption permit by the responsible district office for the shooting.
Given Minister Backhaus' member status in the state parliament, his criminal prosecution must first be suspended. The Legal Committee of the state parliament has complied with the prosecution’s request to lift Backhaus' immunity and is awaiting approval in a forthcoming plenary session.
Minister Defends Controversial Move
Backhaus has defended the decision to shoot the wolf cub, citing species protection as the rationale. In Schwerin, on Wednesday, he maintained that "In March 2020, the Rostock district granted a shooting permit for a wolf cub at the request of the Ministry of the Environment, who had repeatedly approached a farm dog and apparently mated with it. This posed a risk of creating wolf hybrids. Hybridization poses a threat to the wolf population." Interestingly, the examination of the animal killed in April 2020 revealed no signs of pregnancy.
Legal Violations Accused in the Preventive Killing
Previously, the shooting, initially deemed legal under the permit from the responsible district office, received legal validation. However, the Higher Administrative Court in Greifswald reached a different conclusion earlier this year, triggering prosecution involvement. The prosecution believes that only the killing of wolf hybrids is permitted for species protection, not the preventive killing of a supposedly pregnant she-wolf.
Backhaus strongly disagrees with the Rostock prosecution's decision to bring charges, stating that all parties involved had acted within their official duties to prevent hybridization. He emphasized that this has been confirmed by a ruling of the administrative court. The legality of the permit to shoot the wolf cub remains subject to an appeal process before the Federal Administrative Court.
- Till Backhaus
- She-Wolf
- Rostock district
- Prosecution
- Rostock
- Charges
- Schwerin
- SPD
[1] Wolf Conservation Center (n.d.). "The European Wolf." Accessed April 7, 2023.[2] Die Welt (2023) "Backhaus im Wolfsfall vor Gericht?" Accessed April 7, 2023.[3] EuroNatur (2023) "Wolf Ireland: New Arrivals and Protection Efforts." Accessed April 7, 2023.[4] Cambridge University Press (2023) "Conservation of the European Wolf." Cambridge University Press. Accessed April 7, 2023.
Insights
The incident involving Minister Till Backhaus raises significant questions about wildlife management practices in Germany. The legal, ethical, and scientific aspects of the case underline the importance of carefully considering when interventions, such as preventive killings, are necessary to protect species. It also emphasizes the need for precise legal frameworks and scientific evaluation in wildlife management decisions. Public opinion remains divided, with some supporting the preventive measures taken, while others advocate for a more comprehensive, non-lethal approach to wildlife conservation.
- Despite Minister Till Backhaus' defense, his actions in shooting a she-wolf in Rostock five years ago have raised concerns about the legality and ethics of wildlife management in Germany.
- Facing potential prosecution for allegedly breaching the Federal Nature Conservation Act, Minister Backhaus maintains that he acted to prevent hybridization, but the Rostock prosecution believes only the killing of wolf hybrids, not preventive killings, is permitted for species protection.
- The general news about Minister Backhaus' controversy underscores the importance of policy-and-legislation that addresses wildlife management, particularly in determining when lethal interventions, such as the shooting of wolves, are justified.
- In the ongoing debate, some political factions may side with Minister Backhaus, while others might advocate for a more comprehensive, non-lethal approach to vocational training in wildlife conservation, such as educating communities about coexistence with wolves.
