PS: Livestock Damage Will Not Be Mitigated by Wolf Hunting Quota

Bratislava, 28 August (TASR) - Wolf-related livestock damage will not be mitigated by the hunting quota determined by the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry on Thursday for culling 74 grey wolves, according to opposition MP Tamara Stohlova (Progressive Slovakia/PS). Based on last year’s experience, she pointed to non-targeted hunting across Slovakia, with wolves being shot regardless of where the actual damage occurred. "If the Agriculture Ministry really wanted to help farmers, it would invest in expert-backed preventive measures that are successfully applied all around the world," Stohlova said, noting that the ministry failed to address the shortcomings and suspected infringements during last year's season. "Wolves were hunted in close proximity to areas where the hunting of wolves is prohibited. This exposes Slovakia to the risk of lawsuits and fines," she warned. On Thursday, the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry determined a quota for culling 74 grey wolves during the 2025/26 hunting season, distributing it among the individual self-governing regions. Hunting will be prohibited in areas with the fifth level of protection, in sites of European importance where the grey wolf is a protected species, in border areas with Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary, in the Pannonian Biogeographical Region, or in areas surrounding wildlife overpasses. jrg