Poland’s wolves have been helped by the country’s late infrastructure development. In 1989, when the communists left power, Poland had only one motorway. Major road projects began after Poland joined the European Union in 2004 and they are required to consider wild animals. Attitudes have also changed. “For many years, hunting was cultural. In 1975, there were fewer than 100 wolves in Poland. From the 1950s, hunting wolves was encouraged by the authorities. They paid a reward for killing a wolf worth a month’s salary. It was carnage.’’ Myslajek says that Polish wolves are much safer now but they are not completely safe. Packs of wolves cross country borders and hunting still happens in neighboring Russia, Lithuania and Belarus.
Why were there fewer than 100 wolves in Poland in 1975?
Hunting was a widespread practice in Poland around that time The way people thought about wolves in Poland changed around that time Most Polish wolves had migrated to Russia, Lithuania and Belarus There was a drought making it hard for them to survive