Roughly translated by TWIN Observer
STOCKHOLM / TT Sweden should have no more than 180 wolves, says Environment Minister Lena Ek. This means that scores of animals must be shot. If the population is to be viable, it must be at least 380 wolves, claims the EPA. I am speechless, says Mikael Karlsson at the Nature Conservation Society.
In addition to the 380 wolves the EPA is talking about, at least seven new wolves should wander in and reproduce each decade. The conclusion is drawn by work from new analyses of wolf researchers. It is also necessary that inbreeding be significantly reduced over the next two years.
If the Swedish population comprised of 180 wolves would have an immigration rate of new wolves to be much higher than before, and active measures in the form of genetic enhancements would be necessary all the time, according to the work.
Environment Minister Lena Ek (C) has already decided, she told TT. She will recommend the lower figure, 180 wolves.
“It is quite close to the parliamentary decision we have today, the 210 wolves,” says Ek.
She says she is aware that this will require hard work, with constant genetic enhancement of the population.
“It will mean the release of puppies, and further replacements,” she says.
The decision also means that the government goal lies relatively close to the ceiling Hunters Association wants, 150 wolves.
In the current situation there are upwards of 300 wolves in Sweden. How this should go together with the new ceiling of 180 animals is uncertain, but must surely mean that the current population must be reduced.
“This will take a few years to realize,” says Ek.
Mikael Karlsson, President of the Nature Conservation Society, was silent on the phone when TT called about Lena Ek’s statement about 180 wolves.
“I am speechless. Sweden was about to be brought before the European Court of Justice for the ceiling of the 210 animals and a licensed hunting to shoot the population down to it. Now she goes down to a lower figure that lacks any scientific support. This is similar to that climate policy which would involve increasing emissions. This is terrible. I’ve never heard any environmental minister propose such a bad idea,” he said then.
The Nature Conservation Society also directed criticism at the Environmental Protection Agency report, claiming that 380 animals are on the low side. The population should rather be about 700 animals, according to the Nature Conservation Society.
Sweden could now be condemned in the EU’s court, says Mikael Karlsson.
“This may well cause the eradication of wolves and risk Lena Ek’s credibility.
The 380 wolves as the work needed for the strain to be viable and independent would mean an extension of the current wolf population with a hundred animals. The government’s position is rather that the current wolf population is limited to 85 animals. It would thus require shooting the wolves.”
“Yes, there is no other way than hunting if you want to reduce the wolf population,” says Ruona Burman, wildlife coordinator for the Environmental Protection Agency.
At the same time fresh blood is needed for the population, so as to not get too much inbreeding.
Even the Environmental Protection Agency recommendations are too low, consider Ann Dahlerus, Secretary General of the Swedish predator association.
“The figure is based on making a strong genetic enhancement of the wolf population. And in three years, it has not managed to add a single wolf,” she said.
The Environment Minister has decided 180 wolves is “totally unreasonable”, think Dahlerus, who calls the goal populist.
“It is a far more elusive figure. It provides extremely unfortunate signals in a very tense situation.
The Farmers Federation (LRF) believes that the Government’s position on the 180 wolves in the country is reasonable. “But that assumes that the wolf is actually managed, the number during regulated hunting in winter and especially the handling of culling matters is quick, applied liberally and without complicating conditions,” says Federal Chairman Helena Jonsson said in a statement.
Although the Swedish Hunters Association would like to see a ceiling of 150 wolves the chairman Björn Sprängare is very pleased with the Minister’s recommendation, which is slightly above that number.
“There is a number we can live with. 180 wolves is absolutely enough,” he said.
He thinks it’s strange how much more time spent on analyzing the impact of wolves.
“You have not done a calculation of what it costs for people around the districts. If you put on about 400 wolves, the costs to be up in the billions,” he said.
Now, a decision on wolf hunting in the winter is needed, considers Sprängare.
“Anyone who has wolves on their doorstep and get their sheep damaged is familiar enough: If we do not hunt wolves we will never sort this out,” he says.
Tom Arnbom is predators manager at the Swedish World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and is both surprised and critical environment minister position.
“I am extremely surprised by Lena Ek’s conduct in the question. The government has not had an open process and gone against the EU environment commissioner’s statement about the democratic process in Sweden. This will lead to a conflict far worse than it was before,” he says.
He notes that the National Committee of the Wolf, where a number of organizations are represented, was not involved in the discussion.
“It will be very interesting to hear how Ek presents this to the European Commission. Probably there is a very strong lobby group, especially with Hunters Association, influenced by the Centre Party to propel it. – What the government may not realize is that it is supposed that Sweden will become the standard for the rest of the EU,” said Tom Arnbom.