The wolves of Scandinavia are in danger. Sweden, Norway and Finland have authorized the culling of around 100 specimens this winter
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himThe countries of Scandinavia have authorized the hunting of wolves until February, but the associations that deal with the protection of wild species are not there and are appealing to the European Union to stop the slaughter
I wolves of Scandinavia are under attack. From here until the end of winter they will have to deal with a great threat: man. Sweden and Norway have already authorized the killing of these extraordinary animals to control their population. And Finland has also joined these countries. There are about 100 in total the specimens that can be hunted throughout the territory of Scandinavia, but the fear of animal rights activists and conservationists is that the slaughter is of greater scope and that the survival of these key creatures for the ecosystem is jeopardized. .
To stop the massacre, some associations that deal with environmental protection have turned to the European Union to intervene.
It is a horrible situation - comments Siri Martinsen, CEO of Noah, an animal rights organization that is challenging the wolf hunt, taking the matter to the courts. - Wolf management in Norway is out of control and they are just shooting wolves because some people don't like them. It is outrageous to keep a species at a critically endangered level.
The culls authorized in Scandinavia
As anticipated, in the three Scandinavian countries the authorities have given the green light to wolf hunting. There Sweden authorized the killing of 27 specimens, many of which have already been killed. The numbers concerning the Norway are far more worrying: 60% of the wolves (or 51 specimens) living in the nation during this winter could be shot here. The objective of the Norwegian authorities is to maintain a maximum of three breeding pairs on the territory.
Although Norway is not a member of the EU, animal rights groups argue that wolf culling violates the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats.
With regard to the Finland, instead, the maximum number of wolves that can be killed is set at twenty. Hunting had not been authorized in the country for 7 years. Now the situation has changed as the wolf population in Finland has reached an all-time high of the last 100 years. As explained by the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the plan aims to ensure a balance between the survival of these animals and the lives of people. In particular, too many wolves are seen as a threat to livestock and hunting dogs.
“Hunting regulates the growth of the wolf population, prevents injuries and promotes the acceptability of wolves,” explained Finnish minister Jari Leppä.
The concerns of animal welfare organizations
The wolf culling plans authorized in Scandinavia, Sweden and Finland have (rightly) put wildlife conservation groups on alert. Several associations in Finland and Sweden have appealed to the European Commission and the European Court of Justice to declare wolf culling illegal, but both national governments argue that derogations from the Habitats Directive allow for legal hunting.
It seems absurd that countries are blatantly doing illegal things under the EU Habitats Directive. - comments Professor Fiona Matthews, founder of Mammal Conservation Europe - We expect these states to be able to live with their predators, especially given their low population density. The culling plan should be guided by the interests of hunters and support the thesis that wolves are a danger to hunting dogs.
In Sweden, animal rights groups estimate that they will stay by the end of winter less than 300 specimens on the territory.
Sweden has promised the EU not to reduce the wolf population below 300 individuals, this is the bare minimum "- underlined Magnus Orrebrant, president of the NGO Svenska Rovdjursföreningen -" We have informed the European Union that 300 is too short. We have a habitat that could house more than 1.000 wolves.
Our position is that species listed in Annex 4 to the Species and Habitats Directive - strictly protected species - can not be…
Posted by Svenska Rovdjursföreningen on Monday, January 17, 2022
The Svenska Rovdjursföreningen association also notes that there is no evidence or studies showing that hunting is the only solution to the problems described by the authorities.
"We also believe that the purpose of hunting, to remove entire territories to" limit the negative socio-economic and psychosocial impact that dense wolf populations can have on humans "cannot be the basis of an exception under Article 16.1 and of the Species and Habitats Directive ”add the activists.
The Finnish NGO Luonto-Liitto is also of the same opinion, inviting Scandinavia to protect wolves - instead of killing them - because they are essential for biodiversity.
“There has to be a change in attitude towards wildlife. - highlights the Finnish activist Sami Säynevirta - It is important to talk about the benefits of the wolf: they play a key role in a healthy ecosystem, but the news about wolves is practically concentrated on the negative aspects ”.
Not only is the wolf endangered and protected, but as a wild animal it also has an absolute value and its own role in nature.?
Posted by Luonto-Liitto on Monday, January 10, 2022
Raija-Leena Ojanen, WWF legal advisor, also spoke on the matter:
“It is rare for us to resort to such means and denounce the regulation to the EU Commission. But when the ministry challenges EU legislation and jurisprudence once again with its decree, it is necessary for us to get a European interpretation of the situation "
To avoid the slaughter of wolves, animal rights groups in Scandinavia are inviting other European countries to intervene by filing complaints. We hope that this mobilization will help to stir the waters and protect these fascinating (and vulnerable) animals.
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Font: Svenska Rovdjursföreningen / Luonto-Liitto
On wolves read also:
- The gray wolves exterminated by hunting and poaching in Wisconsin, no law protects them anymore
- Wolves from Norway and Sweden are officially extinct
- Down the guns from the wolves! Minister Cingolani's words are unacceptable
