Roughly translated by TWIN Observer
STOCKHOLM / TT
There may be a licensed hunting of wolves in winter, although the European Commission expressed dissatisfaction with the plans, said Eko. Information concerning licensed hunting of wolves is consistent, according to TT’s experience.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency it intends to give the go-ahead to shoot 18 wolves in nine territories in the country and focus on the most inbred wolves.
The decision is highly controversial. Many researchers are critical and environmental organizations say no to this type of hunting.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is deeply critical of the plans. Extremely serious, according to Tom Arnbom, carnivore manager at WWF, is that the plan requires that you shoot nine breeding animals from nine different flocks.
“It would then mean that you shoot off a third of the reproductive portion of the wolf population. It destroys the idea of responsible reproduction,” he says. “Though I do not understand how it all should go to the ground. How can you distinguish between juveniles and parent animals during the hunt? It seems as if the EPA is completely way off, which is especially odd because they seemed clearly reluctant to hunt very recently, since the EU said no to hunting.”
Arnbom suspects that the government is the reason for the reversal.
“I have noticed that both Eskil Erlandsson and Lena Ek pointed out that they want hunting. And Ek has twice previously in the fall dismissed work on the wolf issue. This is on the verge of ministerial rule,” he says.
He is not sure how the WWF will act if it gets licensed hunting, but does not think that the EU Commission will sit on their hands.
“I believe that the Commission will drag Sweden to court. I do not understand how the government can underestimate the EU in this way.”