A proposed massacre of wolves in Norway, again.
Due to a dwindling population of wolves, there will be no licensed wolf hunt this year in Sweden, while in Norway state wildlife authorities have proposed a hunt of almost 75% of Norway’s critically endangered full-time resident wolf population (30% when considering wolves occupying territory at the border with Sweden. During the 2017-18 winter season, 115-116 wolves were detected in Norway, compared to 105-112 the prior winter. From this total, 70-71 of the wolves were full-time residents of Norway, while 45 of them were on both sides of the national border against Sweden. Of the 70-71 whole-Norwegian wolves, 27 were killed by legal felling and one was found dead for another reason).
In June, Norwegian wildlife authorities confirmed the discovery of a litter of wolf pups in Oslo’s eastern forest known as Østmarka. That brings the number of new litters, in 2018, to three in Norway and a fourth along the border to Sweden, prompting state officials to authorize a new wolf hunt this winter.
Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported that members of the authority, in a meeting at Gardermoen, agreed that 12 wolves can be shot outside the “wolf zone,” plus three entire wolf packs inside the zone (the area which was set aside for the wolves to live in peace). All wolves in the packs at Slettås in Hedmark, Hobøl in Østfold and Mangen in both Akershud and Hedmark can be “taken out.”
The final decision will be made by the Climate and Environmental Ministry.
As the wolf is red listed, classified as critically endangered in Norway, we find this proposal to eradicate nearly 75% of the country’s resident wolf population appalling. The Norwegian government is acting against international obligations under the Bern Convention, as well as breaching Norwegian law and decisions made by parliament. Wolves, highly social, family oriented, intelligent non-human animals are slaughtered like “vermin” yearly to levels which can easily lead to the complete extermination of Norwegian wolves.
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Related content:
The Conservationists Union has filed a complaint against killing wolves in the wolf zone. The document can be accessed here. In the complaint, the Swedish Conservation Association asks to suspend the decision to shoot the three stable family groups in Slettås, Hobøl and Mangen and that the felling quota of 12 wolves on the outside of the wolf zone must be significantly reduced.
Rovdata analyzes DNA samples from wolves that are in and out of the wolf zone in Norway.
Rovdata surveillance confirms new litters.
Decline in the Scandinavian wolf population
Miljø-Direktoratet monitoring of wolves
Follow the movement of government-marked wolves in Norway who have left the wolf zone here
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