Roughly translated by TWIN Observer
STOCKHOLM / TT
A total of 16 wolves in eight territories may be shot this winter, according to Environmental Protection Agency’s decision. Males in inbred territories are to be killed and puppies put out instead.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency the hunt is to shoot targeted wolves in the most inbred territories. The idea is to get a long-term viable wolf population.
“A selective and targeted hunting should not be confused with regular hunting license,” writes the Agency’s Maria Ågren.
The hunt is the only measure in the short term which may reduce the degree of inbreeding in the Scandinavian wolf population according to Maria Ågren. It will be combined with other measures to genetically enhance the wolves, like putting zoo puppies in wild wolves territory.
If one of the alpha males in a territory with a large number of inbred wolves can be killed, a lower degree of inbreeding can take over, writes the Agency.
The decision was taken despite criticism from environmental organizations and the European Commission. They believe, contrary to fact, that the decision is a threat to the wolf population.
“The Environmental Protection Agency has made ??its judgments and trade-offs based on the EU’s Species and Habitat Directive and found that the decision is consistent with the Directive. I and the government have no reason to make any other assessment,” says Rural Affairs’ Eskil Erlandsson, responsible for hunting legislation in the government.
The EU environment directorate is to examine the hunting decision to see if it is in line with the EU’s Species and Habitat Directive.
“We need to look at what has been decided. We are all agreed that the Swedish wolf population has an unfavorable conservation status, and we need to see if this hunt can help make it more favorable,” says Joe Hennon, a spokesperson for EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik in Brussels. “If it turns that we are in disagreement, we will pursue the case in court.”
Joe Hennon points out that the EU has no opportunity to stop the hunt, but can only act retrospectively if it is found that Sweden breaks the rules.
He also comments that the EPA decided to call the hunt a “selective and targeted hunting,” instead of licensed hunting.
“Everything depends on whether it is possible to be as selective as expected. Is it possible to distinguish the wolves when the hunt is under way? If we find that this hunt is practically the same as a regular licensed hunt, it is no doubt that we go to court,” said Hennon.
LRF welcomes the decision of selective hunting of wolves in the coming weeks.
“This is a step in the right direction., It’s good that EPA is pursuing its plan of selective hunting. Swedish wolf management is to be controlled from Sweden, not from the Commissioner’s cabinet in Brussels,” said union President Helena Jonsson said in a statement.
No more than two wolves shall be killed in any territory. The search will focus on groups of wolves so that no more than one of the alpha animals is killed.
The hunt, in Dalarna, Värmland, Örebro and Västmanland, should last between 31 January and 20 February, but only tracking is allowed on the first day. Those who may participate in the hunt are those who have hunting rights on the land where the selected territories are located.
The territory where hunting may take place is Brattfors and Acksjön in Värmland, Fulufjället in Dalarna, Ulriksberg and Villingsberg in Örebro County, Kloten in Dalarna and Örebro, Hedbyn in Örebro and Västmanland and Kolsta in Västmanland.
The list may be revised in accordance with the work, if there is new information about the territory, like any alpha animals missing.
There will be no hunting of the wolf pairs residing in Eastern Norrbotten. According to the County Board and the Environmental Protection Agency at least one of the wolves has Eastern origin and are thus genetically important for the Swedish wolf population, reports P4 Norrbotten.