Titbit: Saxony-Anhalt's Wolf Count Soars, Livestock Attacks Decrease
Environmental Minister Armin Willingmann (60, SPD) and Sandra Hagel, President of the State Office for Environmental Protection (LAU), unveiled recent monitoring data on Monday, revealing a thrilling increase in Saxony-Anhalt's wolf population.
Wolf Population on the Rise
The report confirms that the wolf count in Saxony-Anhalt climbed by over a dozen, totaling 201 animals between May 2022 and April 2023. In addition, 36 wolves roam neighboring territories, while the number of surrounded wolf packs within the region burgeoned from 24 to 27. Interestingly, the average litter size per pack remains steady at 3.5 pups.
Livestock Losses on the Decline
Despite the elevated wolf population, there has been a notable decrease in livestock losses due to wolf attacks. The approved incidents of farm animals being targeted dropped by 21.3% from the preceding period, with the number of livestock killed falling sharply, from 294 to 176.
Fatalities Among Wolves
Unfortunately, this positive spree did not extend to wolf safety, as 14 wolves perished during this period. Ten wolves perished in traffic accidents, two suffered bite-related injuries, one drowned, and one met an untimely death due to illegal hunting.
Minister Willingmann attributes the reduced number of livestock losses to "herd protection measures," which prevent over 90% of attack incidents and severe damage to livestock.
Misfollowed Wolves
In light of the current statistics, the Minister opines that "targeted population control by means of systematic removal is not appropriate." Following the disclosure of two friendly-looking wolves in the northern Altmark region, it was later discovered that they were runaway Siberian Huskies.
Added Context
These findings indicate that the perceived threat of wolves to farmers and their livestock might be exaggerated, as incidents of wolf misidentification occur occasionally—such as the Siberian Huskies incident mentioned above [1]. For up-to-date knowledge on wolf populations and conservation efforts, consult wildlife management reports and data from trustworthy organizations, like the German Wildlife Society or the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) [1], which regularly publish annual reports on various wildlife populations.
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