Arge Alp decides Wolf action plan – salzburg.ORF.at
politics
The countries of Arge Alp now want to work more closely together on wolf management. Around 300,000 sheep and goats are herded to alpine pastures in member countries. There are now a total of 38 packs with around 300 wolves. Many mountain and alpine farmers see their economic existence threatened.
The agricultural consultants from Vorarlberg, Tyrol, Salzburg and Bavaria have agreed on joint wolf management. Wolves are to be observed and reported across borders in the future. According to the working agreement, an exchange of experience and data is also planned.
Better detection of “problem wolves”
“These are the necessary tools so that we can ensure the area-wide management of the mountain areas and maintain our alpine farming for the future,” says Salzburg’s Agricultural Provincial Councilor Josef Schwaiger (ÖVP).
Ultimately, it is about agricultural communities in Austria, Bavaria, Northern Italy, Switzerland and other regions of the Arge Alp also about possible shooting of “problem wolves” – if they lack the classic shyness of human settlements and economic areas and cause great damage in cattle breeding and dairy farming.
Huge amounts of compensation
Around 300,000 sheep and goats are raised on alpine pastures in the member countries. The wolf population has grown to a total of around 300 animals. Compensation was paid 650,000 euros, and 6 million euros were paid for livestock protection.
The state of Salzburg alone paid out a total of 40,000 euros after cracks and around 375,000 euros for protective measures in three years. The national and international exchange is also being intensified for this data.
DNA analyzes in exchange from summer
The DNA samples of the wolves in the individual countries are exchanged from the start of the summer season. Until now, this was only possible to a limited extent due to the different examination methods.
In the future, they will be coordinated so that the migration routes of individual animals can be better tracked.