Yet they are hunted: wolves kill fewer sheep

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Albert Rösti’s (56) wolf hunt continues to be criticized. New figures show: in 2023 there were almost a third fewer wolf deaths, although the number of wolves has increased, the “Tages-Anzeiger” reports.

In total, the wolf killed 950 farm animals in cantons with wolf packs this year – up from 1,329 in 2022. In the cantons without packs there are probably a similar number of incidents as last year, estimates the Wolf Group, which collected the data from the cantons. The federal government won’t publish the official data until next year.

At the same time, there are almost four times more wolves in this country than in 2019. Herd protection measures, such as electric fences or herd dogs, are likely to be crucial to ensuring fewer cracks occur. “Herd protection works, even if it does not solve all problems,” David Gerke of the Wolf Group told the “Tages-Anzeiger”. Targeted interventions against leader animals or individual packs are necessary, but not proactive large-scale hunting

“The problem would become enormously worse”

Rösti defended the controversial wolf hunt in a Blick interview this week. “The wolf population is growing exponentially. If we do nothing, the problem would become enormously worse.”

Nature conservation organizations such as Pro Natura, WWF, Bird Life and the Wolf Group had filed complaints against some of the shooting permits. The hunt was then partially stopped. Now the Federal Administrative Court must decide. “I am confident that everything is legal,” Rösti said in the interview.

“The procedure was absolutely democratic.” Parliament has passed a new hunting law that provides for preventive regulation of wolves. Since time is of the essence, a decision will likely be made in January. Wolf hunting is only possible until the end of January or again from December 1, 2024. (brother)

Source:Blick