France Authorizes Culling of 200 Wolves

France has approved the culling of about 200 wolves as authorities move to curb the growing presence of wolf packs near farmland and urban areas, following a recent change in European conservation rules.

French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard announced that the government has raised the annual culling cap from 19 percent to 21 percent of the country’s estimated wolf population, with the possibility of increasing it to 23 percent if necessary. France currently counts more than 1,000 wolves nationwide.

Officials say the measure is intended to reduce attacks on livestock, which have caused mounting economic losses for farmers and heightened tensions in rural communities.

The decision follows a move by the European Parliament last year to downgrade the wolf’s protection status from strictly protected to protected. The change allows European Union member states to implement limited hunting measures while maintaining safeguards to prevent the species from becoming endangered.

Wolves, once nearly eradicated in parts of Western Europe, have made a significant comeback in recent decades due to conservation efforts. However, their expanding range has intensified debate over balancing biodiversity protection with agricultural interests.