Happy end in court for two Upper Lusatian beaver families: their relocation or even killing is off the table for the time being. The animals may not be captured, relocated or killed, the Dresden Administrative Court (VG) ruled in a press release. This was the successful outcome of an urgent appeal by the nature conservation association Grüne Liga Sachsen, which had objected to an exceptional permit that had already been granted.
A pond owner in the Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape Biosphere Reserve had applied for the animals to be removed due to the damage caused by the beavers. The Free State approved a relocation to northern France in the period from October 1, 2025 to March 15, 2026. In the event that the beavers could not be captured alive, the "lethal removal" - i.e. killing - of the animals was also permitted. The "Green League" objected to this.
Beavers strictly protected
The Administrative Court ruled in favor of the conservationists. They were strictly protected animals that could not be caught and killed due to European and national regulations, it said. The 13th chamber of the VG did not consider the legal requirements for granting an exemption from the prohibitions under nature conservation law to be met according to a preliminary legal opinion. Among other things, there were doubts as to whether the planned measures were at all suitable for preventing further damage.
The parties involved have two weeks to lodge an appeal against the decision with the Saxon Higher Administrative Court.
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