For the first time in decades, a controversial wolf hunt is underway in Sweden. The Swedish Environment Protection Agency approved the limited cull of 27 wolves, or about 10 percent of the Swedish wolf population. In October, the Swedish parliament voted to limit the wolf population to 210 animals for the next five years.
Nearly extinct decades ago, the wolf population in Sweden has grown over the years. But wolves have become increasingly unpopular in the country. The animals have reportedly attacked livestock and pets and sightings of wolves in cities and suburbs have also increased.
Despite the fact wolves are listed as critically endangered in Sweden, authorities issued hunting permits allowing the slaughter of the wolves in regions where wolves have reproduced every year for the past three years. 10,000 to 12,000 hunters have registered to take part in the hunt, which began January 2 and runs through February 15, 2010, before mating season begins.
All kills must be inspected by authorities within 24 hours. Hunters are allowed to keep the skins but must “hand over the rest of the body to the inspector” where it will be sent to the National Veterinary Institute.
According to a December press release, the controversial measure was taken to increase acceptance of the large carnivore, control the population and “improve the genetic status of the Scandinavian wolf population.” The EPA believes cubs will survive even if its parent is killed during the cull.
Ironically, when neighboring country Norway took part in a wolf cull in 2001, Sweden opposed the measure. To date, 23 wolves have been killed in the licensed hunt – 20 on Saturday and three on Sunday. Warning: Several disturbing photos of hunt.
Wolves photo by Daniel Mott
Eastern Timber Wolf photo Christian Jansky
One expects better of Sweden.
pls see the website!
I am not proud to be a Swede, this days.
My heart cries …
this is the most asinine thing i’ve heard since that twit of a governor in alaska allowed wolves to be decimated from aircraft, snowmobile, or any other idiotic methods! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
SAME ON THE SWEDISH GOVERNMENT!!!
[yes, i have a lot of family in sweden, and they are all just as appalled as i am :'( ]
strange justice of the human world,and that too of civilized humans! is the wolf population larger than human population?so many humans are born everyday,they are not “culled” for population control, so why does it have to be applied to other species?
Sweden could have up with a more humane solution for controlling wolf population.It is a lame, illiterate and uncivilized way,the way tigers were once hunted for so-called “pleasure”and now millions of dollars are spent to preserve them! how funny
It was primarely a politic decision. They didn’t even had a real plan for how to make the genepool better. The hunt was supposed to remove sick wolves, due to inbreeding. All the wolves that has been examined this far, has been wellmuscled and healthy. And now an animalpark has viped out their whole wolfpopulation because two wolves made a hole in the fence, causing several wolves to have a peek on the outsideworld.
I’m ashamed to live in this wolfcrazy country.
The hunters and the loggingindustries are systematically destroing all wilderness in Sweden.
Plese help us act on this by signing an appeal to the swedish governement about stopping oldgrowth forestlogging and the wolves natural habitat.
http://protecttheforest.se/upprop/en
with concerned regards
Maria Westerberg