(JB) Luxembourg is developing an action plan for when wild wolves return to the Grand Duchy, if they are not already present in the country.
According to Secretary of State Camille Gira, the country’s Administration for nature and forests (ANF) presented a proposal to the upper hunting council (CSC) to create a wolf management plan in April 2015.
The CSC supported calls for a plan, which would include criteria for compensation to farmers as well as awareness-raising and monitoring, among other things.
Wolves have not been seen in Luxembourg for around 120 years years, after they were either killed or driven out by hunters.
Responding to a parliamentary question on how Luxembourg is preparing for their return, minister Gira wrote: “It is difficult, indeed impossible, to say when wolves will return to Luxembourg. It could happen in 10 years or tomorrow. It is even possible that solitary wolves have already been present in Luxembourg for years but have gone undetected because of their fear of people.”
Mr Gira stressed the importance of awareness-raising in the wolf action plan.
He said: “Awareness-raising is important given the fact that a lot of people have an inaccurate image of the wolf, driven in part by fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood, as well as negative campaigns which are not based on science but are launched by anti-wolf lobbying groups.”
Luxemburger Wort – It’s not a case of if but when wolves return.