21/01/2005 WWF opposes
the hunting of Norway's wolves, following
a decision by the Norwegian Directorate for
Nature to kill five individuals a quarter
of the country's total wolf population.
The Directorate has granted licences to hundreds
of farmers to kill the wolves as a measure
to prevent the loss of domestic livestock,
primarily sheep. On January 15th, one of the
marked five a female was shot.
If the Norwegian Environment Minister does
not stop this hunt, he will have the dubious
honour of allowing the regular hunting of
a nationally endangered species," said
Rasmus Hansson, head of WWF-Norway.
The wolf (Canis lupus) became a protected
species in Norway in 1973 and is cited on
their red list of endangered species as 'critically
endangered'. The Norwegian Ministry of the
Environment is ultimately responsible for
ensuring that there are viable populations
of all red-listed species.
Only last May, the Norwegian Parliament decided
on a national goal of sustaining at least
three family packs. The current hunt will
reduce the number of packs to two, a clear
breach of a parliamentary directive.
In 2001, there were an estimated 5080 wolves
in the southern part of Norway and Sweden,
consisting of several families. In that year,
the Norwegian government approved the culling
of 8 out of its 25 wolves. Today, there are
reported to be only 20 left in Norway.
"The culling of 2030 per cent of a
population this size is a serious threat to
the survival of this species in Norway, Hansson
added.
"This practice is contrary to internationally
accepted standards for wildlife management.
No other country that I know of has such an
aggressive policy towards its wolves.
Swedens Environment Minister, Lena Sommestad,
has severely criticised the hunt, accusing
Norway of dodging its responsibility for safeguarding
the Nordic wolf population.
A recent scientific study of the wider Scandinavian
wolf population counted a maximum of 120 individuals.
"There is a serious risk of genetic
degradation in this population because of
its small size," said Hansson.
"A genetically healthy population of
this kind of carnivore should have at least
800 individuals."
