On Wednesday, the Environmental Board submitted a request to the Tallinn Administrative Court asking for the suspension of wolf hunting to be ended as soon as possible.
Last week, the court applied preliminary legal protection to the order of November 1 issued by the Environmental Board and temporarily suspended the wolf hunting season that had started until December 4. Now the Environmental Board requests the administrative court to terminate the preliminary legal protection.
Leelo Kukk, Deputy Director General of the Environment Agency in the field of wildlife, said that the wolf population in Estonia is strong and there is no reason to doubt the accuracy of the methodology used to measure their numbers. “The large carnivore protection and management plan envisages keeping the number of wolves between 20-30 litters. Hunting is one of the factors to achieve the goals set in the management plan,” said Kukk.
The Environmental Board set the initial wolf hunting limit at 90 animals. As of the beginning of November, according to the Environmental Agency, 29 wolf litters are definitely known in Estonia. Based on this, the environmental agency proposes to allow the hunting of 27 more wolves in addition to the already approved volume.
Leelo Kukk added that the Environmental Board supports the proposal to hunt a total of 117 wolves this hunting season. “Wolves are doing very well in Estonia, and their numbers have gradually increased, which shows that the right decisions have been made in nature conservation and hunting. Unfortunately, the increase in the number of wolves is accompanied by losses, and therefore both lower and upper limits have been set in the protection and management plan to ensure a favorable condition of the wolf, while keeping the damage under control. Banning hunting carries risks that have far more negative consequences for the wolf population. There are several examples from Europe where in such cases animals are poisoned and poached, I don’t think anyone would want such consequences for our wolves,” said Kukk.
When determining hunting volumes, the Environmental Board took as a basis the wolf hunting proposal submitted by the Environmental Agency and the data collected by the Environmental Board about the damage caused by wolves. The Tallinn Administrative Court applied preliminary legal protection to the Environmental Board’s order of November 1 and temporarily suspended the wolf hunting season that had started until December 4.
Wolves may not be hunted during the initial legal protection. The court will wait for the parties’ arguments until November 18 to decide whether or not to extend the preliminary legal protection.
2024-11-13 15:32:00
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**Interview with Leelo Kukk, Deputy Director General of the Environment Agency, on Wolf Hunting Regulations in Estonia**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Leelo. Recently there’s been a heated discussion regarding wolf hunting in Estonia. Can you give us a brief overview of the current situation?
**Leelo Kukk:** Certainly. As of now, the Environmental Board has temporarily suspended the wolf hunting season that started in early November due to a legal challenge. We have requested the Tallinn Administrative Court to end this suspension so we can resume a regulated hunting process.
**Editor:** What is the purpose of hunting wolves in Estonia?
**Leelo Kukk:** The primary goal of hunting is to manage the wolf population within a sustainable range. According to our large carnivore protection and management plan, we aim to maintain between 20-30 wolf litters in the population. Controlled hunting is an important factor in balancing the ecosystem while ensuring the wolves remain a healthy population.
**Editor:** There are concerns regarding the impact of hunting on the wolf population. Can you address those?
**Leelo Kukk:** Absolutely. Our monitoring shows that the wolf population in Estonia is stable and healthy. The methodology we use for estimating their numbers is robust and trusted. It’s important to strike a balance—while wolves play a crucial role in our ecosystem, we also need to manage their impact on livestock and local communities.
**Editor:** In your view, how does media coverage affect public perception of wolf hunting?
**Leelo Kukk:** Media coverage has a significant effect. While it is vital for the public to be informed about wildlife management practices, sensationalist reporting can lead to misunderstanding and fear. It’s important that reports are based on facts, as many misconceptions about wolf populations and hunting regulations can spread quickly.
**Editor:** Before we wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to communicate to the public regarding this issue?
**Leelo Kukk:** Yes, I’d like to emphasize that our practices aim to ensure both the conservation of the species and the safety and livelihood of local people. We always advocate for a science-based approach to wildlife management, and we welcome informed discussions from all stakeholders involved.
**Editor:** Thank you, Leelo, for your insights. We appreciate your dedication to wildlife management in Estonia.
**Leelo Kukk:** Thank you for having me!