E.U. Threatens Sweden for Unleashing 6,747 Hunters on 20 Wolves

by Stephanie Feldstein · 2011-01-18 13:28:00 UTC
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How many hunters does it take to kill 20 wolves? In Sweden, 6,747.

That's how many hunters registered for Sweden's second annual wolf cull. It's not just the legion of hunters that's overkill, but the hunt itself — there are only about 200 wolves left in the country, putting them in danger of losing their genetic viability. Sixteen out of the 20 wolf limit have already been killed.

E.U. Environment Commissioner, Janez Potocnik, says Sweden's hunt violates E.U. directives, and that Sweden's Minister of the Environment, Andreas Carlgren, is well aware of this. But Carlgren chose to ignore the warnings from Potocnik and went ahead with the hunt this past weekend. Now, Potocnik plans on taking Sweden to court.

In a statement on Monday, Potocnik said: "The actions of the Swedish authorities leave me with little choice other than to propose to the Commission that it begin formal proceedings against Sweden for breach of E.U. environmental law."

Oddly enough, the Swedish government says they plan on actively working to increase their wolf population and crack down on illegal wolf hunting this year. So, why kill wolves to save them? The government claims the hunts will help the animals gain acceptance in the country.

Their logic doesn't make much sense to the World Wildlife Fund either. “It is doubtful that the hunt has created acceptance for the wolf’s existence in Sweden,” says Håkan Wirtén, CEO of WWF-Sweden. According to WWF, opinion surveys already show that most Swedes are okay with wolves, except for some opposition coming from sheep farmers ... and hunters.

Ever since Sweden went ahead with last year's cull (which, unsurprisingly, went over quota), anti-wolf activists have been howling. Last year's hunt was the first since 1964. But the government continues to ignore the activists, the citizen majority who favors wolf protection, and threats from the E.U.

The European Commission will consider Potocnik's proposal for legal action on January 27. In the meantime, Environment Minister Carlgren still has the opportunity to do the right thing and end the wolf hunt.

In addition to WWF-Sweden, the Association for the Protection of Nature welcomes the E.U.'s intervention. Mikael Karlsson told the media, "The noose is tightening around Sweden."

Help keep public pressure on the Swedish government, and ask them to call off the wolf hunt.

Photo credit: Gunnar Ries

Stephanie Feldstein is a Change.org Editor who has been part of the animal welfare and rescue community for over a decade, and most recently worked for an environmental organization.

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