A new study published in the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy highlights significant flaws in the EU and UK's wildlife protection frameworks.Researchers Dr.Caroline Cox and Dr.

Meganne Natali of the University of Portsmouth argue that current laws treat wildlife as ecological assets rather than sentient beings capable of suffering.

The analysis reveals that over 60% of protected habitats and species remain in unfavorable conservation status due to fragmented legislation, weak enforcement, and political pressures.The wolf downgrade decision exemplifies how derogations and anthropocentric policies undermine conservation efforts.

The authors call for tighter restrictions on legislative flexibility, stronger enforcement mechanisms, and explicit integration of animal sentience into biodiversity laws.

They propose a coexistence-based framework that bridges animal law and environmental governance, aiming to create a more ethical and effective approach to wildlife protection.The study underscores the urgent need for legal reforms to align with modern conservation ethics and scientific understanding of animal welfare.