The approach is unscientific: the IUCN group sharply criticizes the Federal Council for shooting wolves

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The goal should be science-based regulation of the wolf population, according to the letter to the Federal Council, dated last Tuesday. This meant healthy animals in stable packs occupying stable territories. However, killing wolves leads to pack breakups and increased conflict. The fact that wolves become more shy when killed is unproven and misleading.

According to the expert group, the reduction to twelve packs of wolves is far below the minimum for a healthy population of about twenty packs. The animals would not reproduce continuously, but would regulate themselves. Switzerland needs to give itself more time to deal with wolves again.

Switzerland also has responsibility as part of the territory of the Alpine wolf population, which extends beyond the borders of the country. Regulation must take place in consultation with neighboring countries and taking into account the entire wolf population in the Alpine region.

Wolves are important for a healthy ecosystem

As the largest predator at the top of the food chain, wolves fulfill an important and missing function in Swiss nature, the expert group writes. Their regulation of game populations leads to a healthier and more resilient ecosystem, for example by killing red deer and thereby reducing the search for game in the forest.

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. The revised federal law will come into effect on December 1. Shooting wolves is allowed until January 31. (SDA)

Source: Blick