Bergkanton loads the weapon: Wallis wants to shoot more than half of the wolf packs

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Valais wants to eliminate seven of the thirteen wolf packs living in the canton and adjacent areas. This corresponds to shooting approximately 34 wolves out of an estimated total population of 90 to 120 animals.

State Councilor Frédéric Favre, responsible for security, institutions and sport, announced these figures on Friday in his response to two urgent postulates in the Grand Council. With this, Favre announced part of the strategy for regulating wolves, which the mountain canton plans to present next Monday.

The canton of Valais submitted a corresponding application to the Federal Office for the Environment on November 15. Favre hopes the approval will be there by December 1. To achieve the goal of killing 34 wolves, the canton relies on hunters who must undergo special training.

Murders, even in summer

Preventive shooting – in addition to the shooting already practiced in response to herd attacks – should be possible in the future between September 1 and January 31 if the pack poses a danger. As an exception, killing could also be allowed in summer under certain conditions to protect livestock, as Favre further said.

Nevertheless, given the State Council’s statements, the authors of the two postulates stuck to their respective texts. The Grand Council accepted that of the SVP Upper Valais by 64 votes to 57. The text specifically calls for “the killing of as many wolves as the new regulations allow” and “the setting up of a group of employees in charge of wolf regulation. ”

The cantonal parliament also approved that of the center of Upper Valais by 65 votes to 58. This postulate mainly concerns the planning of the organization with the other cantons involved. The two texts have been referred to the State Council.

With the relaxation of wolf protection in Switzerland, wolves can again be shot before they have caused damage. This affects not only individual animals, but entire packs. The Federal Council approved the adjustment of hunting rules at the beginning of November. (SDA)

Source:Blick