Wider range: reactions Neuwied district declared as wolf prevention area
NEUWIED · Because the wolf population is spreading in the Westerwald, the area - to which the Neuwied district belongs - was declared a wolf prevention area.
Thomas Griese, environment undersecretary of Rhineland-Palatinate, confirmed the new status. Due to the declaration, livestock farmers can apply for prevention measures, which are embedded in the management plan of the handling of wolves. The prevention area Westerwald includes the the districts of Neuwied, Altenkirchen and Westerwald. „I am glad that the ministry for the environment followed our advice“, said county commissioner Achim Hallerbach.
A prevention area can only be declared if the the presence of wolves has been proven in a region. There had been several indications in the past already: two wolves roamed the now-declared prevention area. Since 2012, a wolf was sighted 13 times, four times in this year alone, and in total eight times in the Neuwied district. It is likely that the 13 cases account for six to nine wolves.
Now, up to 90% of the eligible costs for wolf-safe fences and herd protection animals - primarily for sheep, goat and agricultural game animals - could be borne by the federal state. Any damage to livestock will be reimbursed 100%. Hallerback emphasised: „Only through appropriate preventive measures and a tolerant attitude towards the wolf will a reasonable cohabitation be possible.“
The management plan is available to view on the website of the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
(Original text: Alexander Hertel, Translation: Mareike Graepel)
