Roughly translated by TWIN Observer
News P4 Västmanland
As early as this spring, there are plans to replant wolf pups from zoos. The marking of female wolves is going on right now in the prospective areas in central Sweden where the puppies should be replanted.
“The preparations are ongoing and the idea is that the female markings will run this week and next week, depending on the weather, of course, says Helena Lindahl Vik, who leads the work of replanting for the Environmental Protection Agency.
Marking of female wolves
There is a hive of activity in middle Sweden’s forests this week and next. With the help of helicopters, a dozen female wolves are located and then radiolabelled – this to prepare for the planting of the wolf pups that will be done in the spring.
“A maximum of ten I believe but it is probably about a five to six,” says Helena Lindahl Vik.
Zoos critical
It was about a year ago that the former environment minister Anders Carlgren announced his and the government’s decision to try to replant the wolf puppies from Swedish zoos in order to strengthen the genetics of the inbred wolf population.
The zoo community dissented because no one had asked them, what they liked, and there was not enough research has revealed that it would work.
Since then, an attempt has been made which have moved the wolf pups within and between zoos. An attempt that has gone quite well, but there are still many question marks before the zoos agree completely.
“Big age difference”
Olle Larsson, CEO of Järvzoo, one of the zoos that may be necessary to deliver the wolf pups in the spring:
“What we have discussed all the time is the problem which is that of the wild wolves give birth earlier than the zoo wolves, and it may become so large an age difference that it is not feasible,” says Olle Larsson.
It is a question that zoo association will now discuss. But in the meantime, EPA helicopters are flying. But the EPA has been more or less decided to set out the zoo puppies.
“Our plan is to implement it in the spring,” says Helena Lindahl Vik.