Roughly translated by TWIN Observer
LONDON / TT A maximum of 32 wolves may be taken in the controlled hunt of the year, starting today.
In the predator counties in central Sweden, 25 wolves can be taken and in Jämtland seven wolves, the EPA decided.
There is an increase over last year, when the limit was twelve wolves.
There are other wolf counties which, under certain conditions, may allow for controlled hunting of wolves. EPA emphasizes that this is a discretion not to be exploited.
According to the Department wildlife coordinator Ruona Burman last year’s controlled hunt showed that twelve wolves be too few. Another five or six animals were killed in addition to the regular controlled hunt last year, making a total of 17-18 wolves. It must be added that 19 wolves were shot during the licensed hunting.
“The population is increasing and hence there is also a risk that wolves cause serious injury. Furthermore, in years to come, another county, Jämtland, may be entitled to decide on a controlled hunt”, she says.
Ruona Burman stresses that the criteria for controlled hunt, which among other things, is that a wolf-caused injury or that there is a risk that the wolf behavior will cause a serious injury, must be met.
Decisions regarding the controlled hunt according to the department should be written primarily for single wolves, because it is very difficult to show that the entire family groups, causing an injury.
New this year is that the County Board on its own initiative may give the green light to the coltrolled hunting preventive measure. This is to prevent a wolf attack.
In December, the European Commission in a letter to the government that it will closely follow the future controlled hunting. The Commission warned Sweden not to shoot too many wolves during the controlled hunting. In that case, Sweden could be placed before the EU courts.
EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik declared himself satisfied with the government abolished the much criticized licensed hunting of wolves this year. But he hinted at the same time that there is a concern that Sweden might not be dealing with protective hunt properly.
Nature Conservation is critical of EPA controlled hunting decisions, both in terms of the number of wolves and the leeway granted for controlled hunting of the wolf, the counties receive.
The association believes that the new rules to protect the hunt threatens the fragile wolf population. It also sees a risk that the county is quite different assessments and “can not handle the pressure of the hunting lobby.”
Farmers Federation (LRF), however, sees the decision as a step in the right direction.
“Now that the county needs to have the political will to facilitate and enhance the decision on contolled hunting so that damage and nuisance by wolves reduced,” the LRF-Chair Helena Jonsson said in a statement.