“The mistakes made with bears must not be repeated”

Raquel Serrat in a recent press conference. EPA.

THE WOLF IS THE SPECIES THAT WORRIES US MOST RIGHT NOW. WOLVES ACT AS A GROUP AND DO A LOT OF DAMAGE

Irene Casellas / icasellas@elpuntavui.cat

Interview ENVIRONMENT

A livestock farmer from Ripollès, Raquel Serrat represents women farmers and is also a member of the national standing committee of the Catalan Farmers’ Union. This organisation is very concerned about the possibility that wolves end up establishing themselves with breeding groups in Catalonia. The union argues that the species should not be protected by the state because this protection has repercussions for managing any wolf population that may be established here in the future. According to farmers, the impact of the wolf on extensive livestock farming is sufficiently well-known and affects their livelihood and continuity as an industry.

Right now, are Catalan farmers worried about wolves?

Yes, it’s the species that worries us most right now. They act as a group, they do a lot of damage. All farmers who have suffered attacks know this. From experiences in other places on the Iberian Peninsula where the wolf is more widespread, we know that attacks are very bloodthirsty. If they end up settling here, we ask that the mistakes made with reintroduction of the bear are not repeated, and that preventive measures are taken whenever possible, for example providing guard dogs or promoting the use of electrified fences. But, of course, farmers cannot do all this alone. There must be support from the authorities.

And I imagine compensation for the loss of livestock when there are attacks?

Yes, of course. The thing is, it’s not just about compensation for when an animal dies. Until now, rural agents have offered farmers preventive measures, but we must bear in mind that attacks on sheep or goat herds are very different from those on cattle or horses. Sheep and goats go in herds and are easier to protect. But cattle and horses are much more scattered, it is not so easy to monitor them. We believe that the primary sector must always be protected, because it pays for the consequences of the presence of these animals.

Is coexistence possible?

Coexistence yes, but there will never be harmonious coexistence. We, the farmers, are the ones who do the work to produce food for the population and manage the territory, and this cannot be neglected. Now we are seeing the idea that we need to manage the wolf population and Europe is considering lifting some protection. We are for that.

There are also environmentalists and scientists who say that wolves will eat roe deer and wild boar and that farmers should therefore be in favour of them.

The food chain has its way of working, but apart from these animals, wolves also eat calves, lambs, goats... If environmentalists saw their income and way of life being threatened, they might see things differently. And we do not want a repeat of what happened with bears, whose reintroduction was very poorly managed. There was little transparency and little dialogue about it with the sector in order to be able to take the necessary measures. The result is that attacks have increased and a lot of damage is occurring.