Wolf cock? DNA testing under high pressure | NDR.de – News – Lower Saxony

As of: 29.11.2018 20:34

The Ministry of the Environment of Lower Saxony is putting pressure on the investigation regarding a possible Wolf attack on a church employee in Steinfeld (Rotenburg District). DNA samples held Wednesday night arrived Thursday at the Senckenberg Institute near Frankfurt. The samples must be treated "preferentially", badured a spokesman of the ministry at the request of NDR.de. It is hoped that there will be a result in the middle of next week, said the spokeswoman. As a general rule, a DNA badysis takes ten working days. "We hope that it will be possible to isolate the usable material from the seized items, and then to evaluate it."

Quick intervention, should be "late danger"

If a wolf attack is genetically proven, the animal will be rendered harmless in a very short time, according to the Ministry of the Environment. In this case, the ministry contacted the Ministry of the Interior at the level of management. The need to kill the wolf exception in "the danger of arrears" is parallel to the DNA investigation in preparation. The Minister of the Environment of Lower Saxony, Olaf Lies (SPD), announced Thursday against the NDR a determined action, if the suspicion of a wolf attack confirms. Lies spoke on NDR television for slower growth of the wolf population and a ceiling of about 1,000 animals. At present, about 200 wolves roam in Lower Saxony.

The identification would be done through a database

The Senckenberg Institute runs a nationally unique DNA database in which all wolves living in Germany are registered. "Even young animals could be genetically identified by their parents," said Justina Lethen of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Environment. The ministry announced that regardless of the result of the DNA test, it would intensify wolf surveillance in the region.

The hair, the hammer and the sweater are examined

If laboratory tests confirmed a wolf attack, it would be the first attack of a wolf on a human being in Germany. At the Ministry of the Environment, they had learned Wednesday afternoon the incident, he added. Two employees of the Wolfsburg Office of the State Office for Water, Coast and Nature Conservation (NLWKN) of Lower Saxony went to the Steinfeld cemetery where they collected samples, said Bettina Dörr from the NLWKN Wolf Bureau. These are animal hairs found in the area. "Whether it's really spotted animal hair, we can not say it." In addition, the hammer that was protecting the alleged wolf of the church employee and his sweater were surrendered.

Workers: Four animals expelled

The incident occurred Tuesday in Steinfeld, in the integrated municipality of Tarmstedt. The 55-year-old was attacked by his own account while he was working on a fence. According to the police, the man reportedly said that he had taken his hand behind him. He noticed that it had been recorded. Looking around, he saw the wolf take his hand, the police said. In addition, three other wolves watched the scene. The man was able to drive the four animals.

"Can distinguish dogs from wolves"

Tarmstedt Mayor Frank Holle (CDU) said: ""He knows animals and can distinguish dogs from wolves," Holle told the newspaper, noting that since the wolves' return to Germany, no animals have been injured. Roland Gramling of the WWF Environmental Foundation said: "You must take this seriously, that it's a pack of wolves or a pack of dogs."

Many curious people on the way

According to Wolfsbüro spokesperson Dörr, many observations are currently being reported. In addition, many young animals are currently traveling. Many were born around May and are currently emancipating from their parents. "They are not as cautious and curious as the rest of the pack," continued Dörr. Because of their thick winter coat, they would look a lot like older animals.

Wolf Advisor has doubts

The Wolf consultant, Hermann Fehnker, expressed during a conversation with NDR 1 doubts about the wolf's attack. "It is said that these animals were partly black and white, which is of course very suspicious," says Fehnker. He recommends staying calm and waiting for the results of DNA tests.