Roughly translated by TWIN Observer
STOCKHOLM / TT
The Administrative Court in Stockholm is stopping temporarily the controlled hunt for two wolves in Junsele area of Angermanland. The decision shall be reviewed, and may in time be enforced, writes the court.
The EPA decided to cull on Friday after the wolves killed a dozen reindeer, but the decision was appealed by the Swedish Society for Predators. One of the wolves has already been shot.
The decision to cull was when the wolves had killed a dozen reindeer and made hunting attempts of fragmented herds. In order for reindeer herding to be conducted in the area the EPA gave the green light to hunt.
Swedish Carnivore Association has repeatedly appealed the various decisions on culling. This is the first time they have been heard, meaning that the court believes that the organization has the right to appeal.
“It is a historic breakthrough. I’m terribly happy and relieved. But it is very sad that someone did shoot the male,” says Secretary Ann Dahlerus said.
The male was shot from a helicopter on January 11 – the same day as the decision to cull was taken. The female, who has managed to stay away, immigrated from Russia and is considered genetically valuable.
The EPA will now be heard before the administrative court makes a final decision.
Meanwhile, the government’s still has a conflict with the European Commission on the wolf hunt. Environment Minister Lena Ek (C) now will answer the sharply critical letter from Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik.
Potocnik believes that Sweden has failed to show how the wolf population would survive and be strengthened genetically. He urges Sweden to maintain the hunting ban.
Ek writes that there are several misconceptions in the Commissioner’s letter and underlines again that the Swedish wolf policy has a “very strong scientific basis.” She rejects that hunting is the only way Sweden can enhance population genetically.
“We’ve waited for the Swedish response to the EU. Now that it has arrived, we work on a decision that will come soon,” says Anneli Nivrén, press officer at the Environmental Protection Agency.
If the hunt happens it is probably a selective hunting, directed against the most inbred wolves.