Whether as a dangerous Isegrim in fairy tales, fables and horror stories or as a mysterious and interesting pack animal: he is admired and loved on the one hand, but also feared on the other. A mix that always causes heated discussions on topics relating to Canis Lupus – its Latin name.

Injured wolf is nursed back to health in the Czech Republic

The story of a young wolf who was probably hit by a car in the Czech Republic is currently spreading on Facebook. He was found in the ditch, showed no emotion, but was awake. So he was taken to a veterinary clinic, where veterinarians are now working on his recovery.

Photo of an injured wolf in the Czech Republic / Screenshot of Facebook post
Photo of an injured wolf in the Czech Republic / Screenshot of Facebook post

At the same time, this Facebook post criticizes how such cases are handled in Lower Saxony, in contrast to the Czech Republic:

“… if a wolf is found here as described, only a brief check is made: can the animal get up and move around on its own? If the wolf cannot do that - it will be killed on the spot in Lower Saxony because the responsible minister has stipulated: IN LOWER SAXONY, AN INJURED WOLF THAT HAS BEEN HIT MAY NOT BE HELPED..."

Facebook post

Most of the comments speak the same language: praise and joy that the injured animal is being helped in the Czech Republic, incomprehension and indignation about the legal situation in Germany, which prohibits help in such a case. Instead, the wild animal is removed here.

What does “withdrawal” mean?

Wolves are strictly protected in Germany. However, withdrawal can occur for various reasons.

“Removal includes catching but also killing individual animals.

If there is approval from the responsible nature conservation authority of the relevant federal state, the removal can be ordered in individual cases by competent people.” Removal or killing can occur “if a wolf is intrusive towards people and repeatedly kills farm animals despite protective measures kills to a large extent (“significant economic loss”) or if it is in pain due to an accident, illegal persecution or illness and treatment is not promising, then a wolf can be killed. These regulations are defined by Section 45 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act.”

NABU FAQ – Wolves in Germany

Such a decision has been made for the example given in Lower Saxony. ( Lower Saxony Wolf Ordinance NWolfVO , Explanatory Decree for Section 9 NWolfVO )
Section 9 of the NWolfVO deals with the removal of a seriously injured or sick wolf:

“(1) 1 The removal of a wolf with the aim of putting it out of its suffering is permitted as an exception in accordance with Section 45 Paragraph 7 Sentence 1 No. 5 BNatSchG if it is found so seriously injured or sick that it... Consultation and judgment of a veterinarian suffers considerable pain and is no longer able to recover on his own. 2 In the case of traffic accidents involving wolves, the assessment of the person authorized to hunt is also sufficient.

(2) 1 Only a veterinarian or another person competent in the collection may make use of the exception under paragraph 1. 2 The powers of the police remain unaffected. 3 The responsible person must inform the responsible nature conservation authority about the removal in accordance with paragraph 1.”

NWolfVO

This is also regulated by the Federal Nature Conservation Act ( BNatSchG § 44 regulations for specially protected and certain other animal and plant species , law on nature conservation and landscape management (Federal Nature Conservation Act - BNatSchG) § 45 exceptions; authorization to issue legal regulations ).

In the Czech Nature Conservation Act, however, under Section 52 – “Saving programs for specially protected species” there is a passage that states the following:

“(2) Anyone who takes in a specially protected animal that is temporarily or permanently unable to survive in the wild due to injury, illness or other circumstances is obliged to immediately hand it over to a rescue center for treatment. The rescue station keeps records of specially protected animals admitted and records and their treatment progress. The date, place and type of release of a cured, specially protected animal into the wild are always communicated by the rescue center to the responsible nature conservation authority.”

Nature Conservation Act Czech Republic – Zákon č. 114/1992 Sb. (translated with DeepL Translator)

Conclusion

Yes, in Germany injured wolves are not allowed to be helped.

You have to keep in mind that if an injured wild animal is to be nursed back to health, it should be returned to nature. Release into the wild after a long stay in a veterinary clinic or rescue center is difficult. And not every wolf is as cooperative as the one in the Czech Republic.

For the sake of completeness: You can follow its progress on the Facebook page of “Drosera Bublava” , the rescue station in the Czech Republic that takes care of the injured cub.

Source:

Lower Saxony Wolf Ordinance , NABU , Czech Republic Nature Conservation Act – Zákon č. 114/1992 Coll.
You might also be interested in: First clone of an arctic wolf: Maya


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