Higher Administrative Court blocks wolf cull permit in North Rhine‑Westphalia

The Higher Administrative Court (OVG) in Münster rejected the district of Olpe’s appeal against an earlier injunction that halted the authorised killing of the protected wolf known as “Milan” (GW1896m). The court ruled that the cull permit was legally flawed because the authorities had not conducted a thorough, case‑by‑case proportionality assessment and lacked reliable evidence that existing herd‑protection measures were effective. Of the 56 documented livestock‑predation incidents in North Rhine‑Westphalia, only one was shown to have adequate protective fencing.

Consequently, the temporary shooting order remains suspended until at least 31 July 2026 and the broader hunting licence for the area is not put into effect. The judgment emphasises that any future exception permits must be based on solid factual findings about local herd protection, costs, and the feasibility of non‑lethal measures. The decision also notes ongoing wolf activity in the region, including the presence of a new breeding female and a recent pup death, but these observations do not alter the legal requirement for proper herd‑protection documentation.