Wildbrücke News #9 (2025) – The Wolf at the Minister-Presidents Conference

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#9
Verlauf: [@tenate-arte] via Canva / Sprachen ​Illustration: iStock/VectorStory
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Wildlife in Germany
Bison in Bad Berleburg: The animals‘ future remains uncertain
Symbolbild: iStock/Jens Otte
The future of the bison in Bad Berleburg
remains uncertain. According to research
by the Westfalenpost, of the original 40 animals
in the two once free-roaming herds,
only about 33 now remain. The herds, which
have been fenced in on an approximately
24-hectare area since winter 2024, have thus
been completely removed from the wild.
As the Westfalenpost reports, several animals
are said to have died recently. BUND North
Rhine-Westphalia strongly criticizes the current
situation. In a statement to the Wildbrücke
editorial team, Holger Sticht, state chairman
of BUND, explained that the remaining
animals are mostly wild-born bison that are
now being „kept like zoos.“ This is neither
species-appropriate nor animal-friendly.
BUND NRW has initiated legal action to release
the animals. „Our urgent application for the immediate
release of the animals was rejected, as
was our appeal against the rejection,“ Sticht said.
A lawsuit is currently pending before the relevant
court. It is directed against the strictly protected
bison being „captured without permission.“
According to BUND, the North Rhine-
Westphalia Ministry of the Environment
intends to sell the remaining animals to
other reintroduction projects as soon as the
ongoing process is completed. From the association‘s
perspective, this would mark the
end of the only outdoor project with bison in
Germany. „In this respect, the outlook for
the protection of bison in North Rhine-Westphalia
is currently not very rosy,“ said Sticht.
The Siegen-Wittgenstein district, which
is responsible for the area, has not yet responded
to this editorial team‘s request
to comment on the outstanding issues.
The bison project was long considered a model
initiative for species conservation in Germany.
However, following the insolvency of the sponsoring
association Wisent-Welt Wittgenstein
e.V. and legal disputes over damage to trees and
crops, outdoor farming ended in 2024. With the
current dispute over the future of the fenced-in
animals, the idea of ​a free-roaming bison herd in
the Rothaargebirge has failed for the time being.
Quelle: Westfalenpost – Redaktion Bad Berleburg: „Rückgang der Wisentherde
in Bad Berleburg: Nur noch 33 Tiere“, veröffentlicht im Oktober 2025, abgerufen
am 20.10.2025 um 12:32 Uhr.
BUND Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. – Stellungnahme von Holger Sticht, Vorsitzender
BUND NRW, an die Wildbrücke Redaktion, 09. Oktober 2025

Wildlife in Germany
Lynx cat Elisabeth released into the wild in Baden-Württemberg
Symbolbild: iStock/chekyfoto
In the southern Black Forest, the young lynx
Elisabeth was successfully released into the wild
at the beginning of October. According to the
state government of Baden-Württemberg, she
is part of the statewide „Lynx Baden-Württemberg“
project, which aims to promote the return
of this shy wild cat. The goal of the program is to
establish stable and genetically healthy lynx populations
in southwest Germany – a crucial contribution
to the conservation of native wildlife.
Elisabeth was cared for by the Forest Research
Institute (FVA) and prepared for release into
the wild as part of a Europe-wide breeding and
reintroduction program. The approximately
one-year-old lynx originates from controlled
breeding and was trained in close cooperation
with zoos and nature conservation organizations
to thrive in the wild. According to the
state, she is not only a symbol of the return
of the lynx, but also of the success of modern
species conservation strategies that combine
scientific findings with practical measures.
The lynx had been extinct in Baden-Württemberg
for over 150 years. Only since the
1990s have individual animals begun migrating
back from Switzerland and the Vosges
Mountains. According to the state government,
around 15 to 20 lynx now live in southwest
Germany, primarily in the Black Forest and
the southwestern Alb. These regions offer
sufficient refuges, prey, and interconnected
forests – crucial for long-term survival.
The release of Elisabeth is part of a cross-border
collaboration with partners from Switzerland
and France to create a stable, interconnected
population. State Environment Minister Thekla
Walker described the lynx‘s return as a „significant
success for nature conservation and a sign
of intact ecosystems.“ With this project, Baden-
Württemberg is sending a clear signal that species
conservation and land use can work together.
Elisabeth‘s release demonstrates that the
return of large wild animals is possible when
research, politics, and society work together.
It thus represents
progress in European
species conservation
and the growing desire
to restore space to
native wild animals.
Quellen (Stand: 20. Oktober 2025, 09:23 Uhr)
Baden-Württemberg.de – „Luchskatze Elisabeth ausgewildert“, offizielle Pressemitteilung
des Landes Baden-Württemberg
https://www.baden-wuerttemberg.de/de/service/presse/pressemitteilung/pid/
luchskatze-elisabeth-ausgewildert/
Forstliches Versuchs- und Forschungsinstitut Baden-Württemberg (FVA) –
„Luchs-Monitoring und Wiederansiedlung in Südwestdeutschland“
https://www.fva-bw.de/
Luchsprojekt Baden-Württemberg – Projektinformationen und Monitoringdaten
https://www.luchs-bw.de/

Crane migration has begun – bird flu is spreading rapidly
Wildlife in Europe
Symbolfoto: iStock/Thomas Nuehnen
The autumn crane migration has begun:
Thousands of birds are currently migrating
in wedge formation across Germany toward
the southwest. In the early morning hours,
their typical calls can be heard in many places,
especially over North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate,
and Brandenburg. As the
General-Anzeiger Bonn newspaper reports, the
first large flocks crossed the region as early as
mid-October – an impressive natural spectacle
that attracts numerous observers every year.
But the joy of the start of the crane migration
is overshadowed this fall by disturbing news:
Avian flu is spreading rapidly in Germany.
According to a report by ZDFheute, numerous
new cases have been reported in recent weeks,
primarily among wild birds. The Friedrich
Loeffler Institute has registered a significant
increase in detection rates, particularly in the
northern German coastal regions. The current
virus variants are considered particularly
contagious, which is why experts recommend
increased monitoring of the resting areas.
As the General-Anzeiger further reports, hundreds
of dead cranes have already been found
at the Linumer Teiche ponds in Brandenburg.
The nature reserve is considered one of Europe‘s
most important resting places, where up
to 80,000 cranes gather each year on their way
south. Investigations by the state laboratory
indicate that the animals died from the highly
contagious form of avian influenza. Infected
wild birds have also been reported in Mecklenburg-Western
Pomerania and Lower Saxony.
Authorities are urging walkers and observers
not to touch dead animals and to
report any found birds to the veterinary
authorities. Especially in resting areas, they
are asked not to disturb or attract the animals
to prevent further spread. The virus is
only rarely dangerous to humans, but poses
a serious threat to wild and domestic birds.
Despite the tense situation, the migratory birds
are continuing their journey – their route takes
them through the Rhineland, Hesse, Thuringia,
and Saxony towards France and Spain. Ornithologists
hope that the majority of the birds
will survive the resting areas without major
losses. This year‘s crane migration demonstrates
once again how closely nature experiences
and species conservation
are linked – and
how quickly natural
rhythms can be
disrupted by disease.
Quellen (alle abgerufen am 22. Oktober 2025, 05:52 Uhr):
General-Anzeiger Bonn – „Kraniche über Bonn und Region: Der Kranichzug
im Herbst“
https://ga.de/bonn/stadt-bonn/kraniche-ueber-bonn-und-region-der-kranichzug-im-herbst_aid-101657865
General-Anzeiger Bonn – „Hunderte tote Kraniche an Linumer Teichen“
https://ga.de/hunderte-tote-kraniche-an-linumer-teichen_aid-137374383
ZDFheute – „Vogelgrippe breitet sich in Deutschland rasant aus“
https://www.zdfheute.de

Wildlife in Europe
158 beavers allowed to be shot in Upper Austria
Symbolfoto: iStock/Bob Gwaltney Photography
Beavers may once again be killed in several Austrian
federal states. As reported by the Standard
newspaper, the state of Upper Austria has passed
a new beaver ordinance permitting the killing
of up to 158 animals. The decision has sparked a
heated debate between authorities, agriculture,
and nature conservation organizations. Salzburg
and Carinthia have also adopted similar
regulations, while environmentalists warn of
a regression in European species protection.
According to the Upper Austrian state government,
a maximum of 158 beavers may be killed
between September and March – about seven
percent of the estimated population of around
2,500 animals. According to State Councilor for
Nature Conservation Manfred Haimbuchner
(FPÖ), the conservation status of the species
in Upper Austria is now „secure.“ However,
as the population grows, so does the potential
for conflict. The new regulation is intended to
enable targeted interventions where „economic
or infrastructural damage“ is occurring. The
beaver (Castor fiber) is strictly protected under
the Bern Convention and the EU Habitats Directive,
but Austrian nature conservation law
permits so-called „harvesting“ in exceptional
cases if other measures prove unsuccessful.
As the Standard further reports, Upper Austria
is already the third federal state to officially
permit the shooting of beavers. A similar regulation
came into force in Salzburg, providing
for the killing of up to 15 animals per year. State
Councilor Marlene Svazek (FPÖ) stated that the
aim was to minimize conflicts along the Salzach
and Saalach rivers. In Carinthia, the quota
was even increased to 148 animals annually.
Hunting Commissioner Martin Gruber (ÖVP)
justified the move with an annual population
increase of around 21 percent and rising damage
reports, the Standard further reports. Compensation
for so-called beaver damage has risen
from €8,500 in 2020 to over €64,000 in 2024.
The Austrian Nature Conservation Union
(NABU) reacted with sharp criticism. According
to the report, expert Lucas Ende
called for a nationwide beaver strategy to
resolve conflicts in a long-term and ecologically
sound manner. With its dams, the
beaver creates valuable habitats, promotes
biodiversity, and stabilizes wetlands. Instead
of relying on culling, the association calls for
preventative measures, such as the preservation
of riparian zones, targeted live capture,
or the relocation of animals in conflict areas.
The beaver was once extinct in Austria and was
successfully reintroduced in the 1970s – a prime
example of successful species conservation.
While farmers and municipalities welcome the
regulations, conservationists
warn of a
precedent that could
jeopardize the species‘
protected status.
Quelle: Der Standard – Stefanie Ruep: „Oberösterreich gibt 158 Biber zum
Abschuss frei“, veröffentlicht am 24. September 2025, abgerufen am 20. Oktober
2025, 07:26 Uhr
https://www.derstandard.de/story/3000000289083/oberoesterreich-gibt-158-biber-zum-abschuss-frei

Wildlife in Europe
Feeding hedgehogs in autumn?: What they eat and how to help them
properly
Symbolfoto: iStock/Callingcurlew23
When temperatures drop, a crucial phase
begins for hedgehogs in Germany and Europe:
They must build up sufficient fat reserves
to survive the winter. According to BUND
(Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union)
and NABU (Nature and Biodiversity Conservation
Union), now is the right time to make
gardens hedgehog-friendly and to offer gentle
assistance where needed. Autumn is stressful
for hedgehogs – they search intensively for
food to store enough fat for hibernation.
But increasingly fewer natural gardens are
making survival more difficult for them.
As BUND (Nature and Biodiversity Conservation
Union) explains, hedgehogs are not vegetarians,
but insectivores. Their diet includes
beetles, caterpillars, earthworms, and woodlice,
as well as snails and occasionally carrion. Milk
is dangerous for hedgehogs and causes diarrhea;
bread and fruit scraps are also unsuitable.
Those who want to help should design their
garden as a natural habitat – with piles of leaves,
dead wood, or hedges that attract insects.
NABU (Nature and Biodiversity Conservation
Union) Odenwaldkreis points out that not every
hedgehog needs help. Healthy animals should
generally be left alone. Help is only necessary if
an animal is visibly weak, underweight, or active
during the day. Young animals should weigh
at least 400 grams at the beginning of October,
around 500 grams at the end of October, and
around 600 grams at the beginning of November.
Lighter animals can be taken to a hedgehog
shelter or carefully fed – ideally with unseasoned
cat food, oatmeal, and some scrambled eggs.
Both the German Nature Conservation Association
(BUND) and the German Nature and
Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU)
advise against over-tidying gardens in the fall.
Piles of leaves, unkempt corners, and dead wood
provide valuable refuges. Leaf blowers, robotic
lawnmowers, and slug pellets should be avoided
– they directly endanger hedgehogs or deprive
them of their food source. A shallow water bowl
can also be life-saving. If you discover a sleeping
hedgehog, do not disturb it or relocate it, but
contact a wildlife rescue organization if in doubt.
Hedgehogs are beneficial garden inhabitants,
consuming many pests and supporting ecological
balance. As BUND Naturschutz and NABU
emphasize, the best protection is a natural
garden that provides food for insects, including
hedgehogs. Those who
want to help should
take considered,
nature-based measures
– and seek professional
help if unsure.
Quellen: BUND Naturschutz in Bayern – „Was fressen Igel? So füttern Sie Igel
richtig“, abgerufen am 20. Oktober 2025, 08:34 Uhr
https://www.bund-naturschutz.de/oekologisch-leben/tieren-helfen/igel/wasfressen-igel
NABU Odenwaldkreis – „Igelhilfe – aber richtig!“, abgerufen am 20. Oktober
2025, 08:34 Uhr
https://www.nabu-odenwaldkreis.de/informatives/naturschutztipps/igelhilfeim-herbst-winter/

Wildlife in the World
Snow leopards in Bhutan detected through environmental DNA
Symbolfoto: iStock/Rixipix
Researchers in the mountains of Bhutan have
achieved a significant success: Using environmental
DNA (eDNA), snow leopards have been
detected for the first time in several Himalayan
river basins. As the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
reports, the discovery is an important step for
the conservation of this endangered species
and provides new insights into their habitats.
The WWF team collected water samples from
various rivers in central and western Bhutan.
Scientists found genetic traces in the samples
that could be clearly attributed to the snow
leopard (Panthera uncia). This method makes
it possible to record wild animals without
disturbing them or having to directly observe
them. According to the WWF, this is the first
eDNA detection of the species in Bhutan – and
evidence that the animals are found not only in
the high mountains but also in lower regions.
As the WWF further reports, snow leopards
are critically endangered: their population
is estimated at fewer than 7,000 individuals
worldwide. The main threats are poaching,
habitat loss, and conflicts with livestock
farmers. The detection in Bhutan is therefore
considered an encouraging sign for regional
species conservation. The data collected will
be incorporated into Bhutan‘s National Snow
Leopard Monitoring Program, which is run
jointly by the government and the WWF.
According to the WWF, the use of environmental
DNA will play an increasingly important role
in wildlife monitoring in the future. It allows for
the exploration of hard-to-reach areas and the
more targeted protection of endangered species.
Bhutan is considered a pioneer in Asia when it
comes to protecting its mountain ecosystems.
Snow leopards live in the high mountains of
Central Asia and are known for their tremendous
adaptability. They are considered an indicator
species for healthy mountain ecosystems.
The new detection shows that the Himalayas
still provide refuge for these rare animals – but
their survival depends
on how well human
use and conservation
can be reconciled.
Quellen (abgerufen am 22. Oktober 2025, 19:37 Uhr):
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) – Pressemitteilung: „eDNA reveals snow leopard
presence in Bhutan’s mountain rivers“, veröffentlicht am 20. Oktober 2025
https://www.worldwildlife.org/news/stories/edna-reveals-snow-leopard-presence-in-bhutans-mountain-rivers

The Wolf at the Minister-Presidents Conference in Mainz
Wildlife in Germany
The wolf was one of the central topics of
the recent State Premiers‘ Conference in
Mainz. The state leaders decided to lower the
protected status of this wild animal in Germany,
thus enabling stricter regulation in the
future. After years of intensive discussions
between politicians, the public, and nature
conservation associations, a clear realignment
in dealing with the wolf is now emerging.
The State Premiers‘ Conference on October 24,
2025, in Mainz marks a turning point in German
wildlife policy. The states voted in favor of
lowering the protected status of the wolf in German
law as well. According to the resolution,
the goal is to establish „modern and practical
population management“ that ensures the favorable
conservation status of the population while
simultaneously protecting livestock farming.
The justification states that without such
an approach, public acceptance of the wolf
would continue to decline. The resolution
is in line with the assessment of the German
Federal Government, which reported a
„favorable conservation status“ to the EU
authorities in Brussels in mid-October.
The conference highlighted the considerable
regional variation in Germany. While only a
few animals currently live in the south, such as
Rhineland-Palatinate, many packs are native to
the eastern federal states, such as Saxony. This
uneven distribution presents very different
challenges for the population and authorities.
Saxony‘s Minister-President Michael Kretschmer
(CDU) stated: „Be glad that you don‘t
have this problem like we do in Saxony.“ He
pointed to the tense situation in his state, where
people have been living with the growing wolf
density for almost two decades. According to
Kretschmer, many citizens have lost trust in
political institutions because they feel abandoned
by politicians in dealing with the wolf.
The resolution of the Minister-Presidents‘
Conference paves the way for a new chapter in
German wolf management. In the future, culling
will be easier once a favorable conservation
status has been confirmed. The goal remains
to secure livestock
farming while simultaneously
maintaining
long-term
population stability.
Quellen abgerufen am 25.10.2025 um 08:34 Uhr:
Pressekonferenz zur MPK in Mainz: https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=PCrAhsXjGjI Zeit01:04:31
Ministerpräsidenten wollen Wölfe jagen lassen: https://www.evangelisch.de/
inhalte/248849/24-10-2025/ministerpraesidenten-wollen-woelfe-jagen-lassen