Protection march for wolves: 201 kilometers for the return of the wolf!

Protection march for wolves: 201 kilometers for the return of the wolf!

On September 1, 2025, the "Allianz Wolf Brandenburg" started a remarkable "protective march for wolves". This march has an ambitious goal: it should be covered in 201 kilometers to the Brocken, where the participants want to present their demands for better wolf protection. This protest is directed against the weakened protection status for wolves, which has been decided by the EU Parliament since May 2025, which downgrades them from "strictly protected" to simply "protected". This change could result in the inclusion of the wolves in hunting law, which arouses fears regarding their future security. In Brandenburg, where most wolves live in Germany, numerous incidents of killed or disappeared farm animals were reported last year, in which wolves are considered possible.

The State Office for the Environment (LFU) underlines the importance of herd protection measures to minimize the damage and provide funding for this. Nevertheless, the State Hunting Association of Brandenburg and agricultural associations are calling for a reduction in stock to 200 animals. Environment Minister Hanka Mittelstädt (SPD) has not yet committed itself to a specific approach to dealing with the wolves, while State Secretary Gregor Beyer suggests an annual launch rate of up to 35 percent for the wolves. However, these estimates are criticized by environmental associations as too high and lead to tensions in discourse on the wolf in German nature conservation.

The march for wolf protection

The protest march, which started on Monday, chose the route from the Potsdam state parliament to the Brocken. The organizers are committed to pointing out the necessary steps to protect the wolves and arguing against the hunt for these animals. The wolves are viewed as an ecological key, the protection of which is essential for the balance of nature. The Ministry of Agriculture also plans a “wolf plenum” in September to discuss how to deal with the animals, which shows that the dispute continues between nature conservation and agricultural associations.

The Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation Germany (BUND) rejects a flat-rate launch rate, while hunting and agricultural associations are demanding regulation of the woolen population. These divergent interests shed light on the difficulties that the topic brings and refer to the deep cracks in the debate about wolf protection.

Legal framework and protective measures

The return of the wolves in Germany shows a positive trend after they have almost extinct in the 19th century due to human persecution. Wolves are currently subject to strict protective measures specified by international, European and national law, including the Washington Species Protection Agreement and the Bern Convention. In addition, with the Fauna Flora Habitat (FFH) guideline, the EU prescribes special protected areas for wolves. However, the EU Commission plans to reduce the protection status of the wolves in the Bern Convention in order to be able to react better to damage to farm animals.

The new regulation that comes into force on March 7, 2025 could have a serious effect on the stability of the wolf population. While intentional killings of wolves are no longer automatically prohibited, they must be bound to prioritize protective measures for farm animals. A deterrent judgment of the European Court of Justice to strengthen the Wolf Protection of July 11, 2024 also shows how important a rigorous legal framework is in order to achieve sustainable coexistence of wolves and pasture farming.

A meeting between the ministry, associations and scientists is planned for September 11, 2025 to find solutions for the controversial handling of wolves. It remains to be seen whether State Secretary Beyer's role becomes decisive in these discussions, since there are currently no plans for his resignation.

In view of the changeable discussions and the significant legal framework, everyone involved must work together on a sustainable concept in order to take into account both the protection of the wolves and the concerns of agriculture.

For more information: rbb24,, N-TV,, Baumann Rechtsanwälte.