[InTime News]
The Nature 2000 Committee has rejected a proposal to remove wolves from Mount Parnitha, calling the plan “scientifically unfounded and practically unfeasible.” The proposal, initiated by the Animal Protection Prosecutor to safeguard the local deer population, was based on a report by the Hunting Federation of Central Greece.
The committee, the state’s top scientific advisory body on biodiversity, noted that wolf removal violates EU law, as the species is strictly protected. “The wolf is a key component of Parnitha’s ecosystem,” the committee stated, adding that its past extermination disrupted ecological balance, especially after the 2007 wildfire.
Experts also stressed the technical difficulty and ecological risks of trapping and relocating wolves. The committee concluded the plan prioritizes fulfilling a legal order over scientific reasoning, dismissing claims of public safety threats.
The Hellenic Zoological Society and environmental group Callisto echoed concerns, urging an evidence-based management plan ensuring both wolf and deer populations’ long-term viability.