German State to ban feeding and wolves photograpy

The Northern German State of Lower Saxony plans to ban the feeding and photographing of wolves in the wild.

A corresponding by-law is expected to be passed this year, the Hanover-based Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung reported on Friday, citing the state’s Environment Ministry.

“The wild animal, the wolf, is naturally shy of humans and therefore keeps its distance as a rule,’’ ministry spokesperson Lotta Cordes told the local newspaper.

Nature conservation authorities routinely report about people who try “to take up active contact with wolves by repeatedly seeking to be close to them, to lure them with food in order to photograph them or even to be able to have physical contact with them,’’ Cordes said.

“This behaviour can lead to the affected wolves, especially cubs, losing their natural shyness of people,’’ she said.

A result could be, as it has been the case in the past that some wolves will actively attempt to approach people.

“In order to counteract this provoked development among wolves and, with it, a possible risk to humans in good time, acclimatising wolves to humans by luring or feeding is to be prohibited,’’ Cordes added.

People who violate the by-law will be fined.