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Email: timberwolfinfonetwork@gmail.com

SE: Up to 100 wolves can be shot

Roughly translated by TWIN Observer

STOCKHOLM / TT Environmental Protection Agency has opened for licensed hunting of wolves in Sweden in winter. It can be no question of 100 wolves, says Director General Maria Ågren. The WWF expresses great disappointment.

The right to decide on the hunt will be decided by the counties of central Sweden where the entire Swedish wolf population is.

How many animals can be hunted is unclear in the current situation but already it has been decided that Sweden will have a final population of 270 wolves. The current population is significantly larger, about 370 animals.

Environmental Protection Agency’s director general Maria Agren says it is now up to the county administrative boards to decide whether to license hunting.

“This is a step towards the regionalization of wolf management as the parliament voted last fall,” says Agren.

She is aware, however, that any hunting license may be highly controversial, especially if the county administrative boards choose to shoot as many wolves as possible.

“The gap between the existing level of the wolf population and the minimum level by the Riksdag is great. There can be no question of 100 wolves,” she says. “I do not want to speculate on the ratio is as high or not. But if the new government would have a different policy it has the opportunity to change the regulation that applies now.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is deeply disappointed by the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision, but believes that it is now time for the new government to act:

“The only right thing is to postpone the decision on the hunting license,” said Tom Arnbom, predator specialist in the WWF.

He believes that the work should now be tasked to develop rigorous scientific foundations for how the wolf population should be managed. There, the objective of favorable conservation is indicated.

“It’s time for politicians to stop interfering in the wolf issue,” he says.

The wolf hunt decision causes problems for the new government. It is namely based on the previous government’s consideration, including the decision on a population of 270 wolves. That level is considered by many as too low, and moreover poorly grounded in scientific knowledge.

The EPA has in the decision also established minimum levels for the number of wolves needed to reach previous population levels, ie the number of litters, in the affected counties. Värmland has the highest level, 11 litters, and Dalarna second highest with 7 litters. This is followed by Örebro County (5), Gävleborg County (2), Västmanland County (1) and Västra Götaland (1).

In principle, the county administrative boards the right to decide whether hunting as soon as the wolf population in the counties is above the established minimum levels.

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