The mystery surrounding EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, her pet pony and the big bad wolf as she denies killing the animal suspected of killing her pet horse
- Dolly, a pony owned by Frau von der Leyen, was vandalized on September 1st
- The attack took place at her home in rural Lower Saxony, north-west Germany
- DNA evidence identified the perpetrator as a world linked to about 12 other murders
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has denied ordering the killing of a wolf suspected of killing her pet horse.
Dolly, a pony owned by Frau von der Leyen, was vandalized at her home in rural Lower Saxony, north-west Germany, on September 1.
The European Commission President, a keen horse rider, said her family was “appallingly desperate”.
DNA evidence identified the perpetrator as a wolf, which has been linked to 12 other murders. Officials had previously placed a bounty on its head, but the wolf was never caught.
Dolly, a pony owned by Ursula von der Leyen (pictured together), was vandalized at her home in rural Lower Saxony, northwest Germany, on September 1
DNA evidence identified the perpetrator as a wolf linked to 12 other murders (stock image)
Shortly after Dolly’s death, Frau von der Leyen ordered EU officials to carry out an analysis of the dangers posed by wolves.
In November she wrote to members of her German People’s Party: “The Commission recognizes that the return of the wolf and its growing numbers are creating conflict.”
That same month, centre-right MEPs got a resolution calling for loosening laws protecting wolves.
However, the European Commission has denied that the proposed change was driven by von der Leyen’s desire for revenge.
Agricultural associations and politicians in Germany had previously called for the rules on all forms of catching and killing of wolves to be relaxed, although environmentalists accuse Ms von der Leyen of instigating a culture war over wolves.
They said it was good that “after being threatened with extinction, large carnivores are making a remarkable comeback in Europe’s landscapes”.
But Pekka Pesonen, general secretary of agricultural group Copa-Cogeca, claimed wolf attacks were forcing farmers to stop.