2023-07-29 09:32:38
In Tyrol, a second wolf was killed in accordance with the ordinance, this time in the low mountain range (district of Innsbruck-Land). Landesjägermeister Anton Larcher confirmed the shooting to the APA. The wolf was killed on Friday. According to the state, the relevant regulation had been in force since July 12 following sightings in Völs near the Innsbruck prison and in Natters. In East Tyrol, a wolf was killed for the first time in the state last week.
“The animal was already near the settlement and was therefore released for shooting according to the criteria defined in the Measures Ordinance,” said Deputy Governor Josef Geisler (ÖVP) the reason for the second shooting. After two cracks on alpine pastures, the Tyrolean state government made up of ÖVP and SPÖ had previously released a wolf near Pfunds (Landeck district) to be shot. DNA analyzes assigned the cracks to a wolf from the Italian population, it said. The regulation is in force for eight weeks. It was the twelfth ordinance of its kind in Tyrol. Five had already expired, six are currently still active. The protection of the “alpine and cultural landscape” is the “priority goal,” emphasized Geisler in a broadcast. Agriculture, biodiversity, leisure time and tourism must be protected, Geisler once once more justified the new shooting ordinance.
Politicians have been dealing with the topic of wolves for some time. The association once morest animal factories (VGT) last Thursday announced criminal charges once morest those provincial councils from Carinthia, Tyrol and Salzburg that issued wolf ordinances for the shooting of the animals. The animal rights activists accused those responsible of abuse of office and environmental damage. In June, the Administrative Court (VwGH) determined that recognized environmental organizations can apply to the authorities for the review and repeal of such ordinances. In Tyrol, the announced announcement concerned the deputy governor Geisler.
The European lawyer Walter Obwexer, however, gave the ads little chance of success. He did not see the fact of abuse of office on the part of those responsible.
The wolf as a predator regularly causes emotions to run high, especially in Tyrol, and farmers complained regarding countless sheep being killed. There was also talk of increasing uncertainty among the population regarding wolves (and bears). In February, the majority of the state parliament passed an amendment to the law that would allow killing by decree and no longer by notice. Previous decisions had been overturned by the court several times following environmental protection organizations had successfully appealed them. The shooting ordinance now applies generally to a wolf – and not to a specific individual. There have been repeated calls in Tyrol for a reduction in the protection status of the predator at European level, for example from Governor Anton Mattle (ÖVP).
Experts questioned the legality of the approach chosen by the state of Tyrol, among others. The two European law experts Obwexer and Peter Hilpold, who teach at the University of Innsbruck, had described the Tyrolean approach to the APA as clearly contrary to EU law. For Hilpold, the problems are “probably accepted”, Obwexer suggested a return to the notification variant. The state government itself had spoken of a “legal border crossing” in the course of the amendment to the law.
This week, EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius spoke up in the matter and showed no understanding for the “anti-wolf mood” in Austria. He spoke of a “disproportionate alarm mood”. The Commissioner’s statement was sharply rejected by Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) and Mattle, among others. Brussels argued far removed from reality in the member states.
1690624099
#wolf #shot #shooting #ordinance #Tyrol
