Norwegian wolves face another cull
J oint surveys of the small population of wolves in Norway and Sweden are continuing this winter. At the same time, hunters are carrying out another licensed wolf cull in Norway, following a contentious decision by the country’s Ministry of Climate and Energy.
Wolves in Sweden and Norway are members of a cross-border population whose numbers are assessed through annual surveys. The 2017–18 survey found evidence of an estimated 410 wolves, three-quarters of which live in Sweden. The Norwegian wolf population, including animals that range across the border, numbers fewer than 100.
Current winter hunting of 26 of these Norwegian wolves has been welcomed by farmers’ representatives, with Einar Frogner of Norges Bondelag saying that it shows the government is listening to people who face challenges from living with wolves. But the cull has been called ‘irresponsible’ by Friends of the Earth Norway and criticised by Arnodd Håpnes of the Norwegian society for the Conservation of Nature.
“It is very disappointing,” he says, that the Norwegian Government “puts elk and sheep before preservation of a Critically Endangered species.” K Taylor
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Approval of wolves in Scandinavia – Norway and Sweden comparison: bit.ly/wolvesinscandinavia