HELSINKI, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Finland will once again allow the killing of wolves from January 2026, ending more than five decades of strict protection for the species.

The government on Thursday submitted a bill to parliament seeking to repeal the 1973 law that banned wolf hunting nationwide.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah told a press conference that the measure was needed to address rising public safety concerns. "In some areas, taxis have been arranged to transport schoolchildren to avoid encounters with wolves," she said.

Under the proposal, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry would set regional hunting quotas and define restricted periods when wolves cannot be hunted. Essayah said the government aimed for "a long-term and balanced solution" to control risks posed by wolves, noting increasing losses of livestock, particularly sheep, in recent years.

According to the Finnish Natural Resources Institute (Luke), Finland had an estimated 400 to 465 wolves in September, up from about 300 two years earlier. The population has expanded northward and westward, heightening tensions in rural communities where wolves are blamed for attacks on dogs and farm animals.

The legislative move follows a European Union (EU) decision earlier this year to amend the Habitats Directive by reclassifying wolves from "strictly protected" to "protected." The change gives member states greater flexibility to adopt population-management measures -- including authorised hunting -- as long as the species is kept in a favourable conservation status.

In 2021, Finnish authorities issued permits to cull 18 wolves to reduce attacks on livestock, but environmental groups appealed the decision in administrative courts, preventing the hunt from going ahead. Conservation organisations continue to argue that Finland's wolf population remains vulnerable and that culling could hinder its recovery.

Wolves were once widespread across Finland but were nearly exterminated by the mid-20th century. The species began to recover following the 1973 protection law and subsequent EU conservation measures.

The bill still requires parliamentary approval. As the governing coalition holds a majority in the legislature, the proposal is widely expected to pass without major changes. Enditem