Stop the licensed hunt of wolves in Sweden 2017

The licensed hunt is a violation of the European Union Habitats Directive.

The hunt that will last from January 2nd till February 15th will be conducted with pursuing dogs and in such a manner that it is in direct violation to the hunting act and hunting regulation rules concerning animal welfare considerations.

The strong opposition against the wolves is largely built on a competitive thinking of ungulates and the loose dog hunting from the hunter’s view. Management plans cannot be built on individual interests but should first and foremost depend on the species' conservation status.

When it comes to reducing the risk of wolf attacks on domestic animals, there are other more appropriate solutions and the improper agitation to refuse fencing to get permission to cull the wolf and economical compensation should be prohibited.
The licensed hunt would obstruct the attainment of a favorable conservation status for the wolf. Not until the Scandinavian wolf population get a proper genetic exchange of migrants and their offspring’s can a licensed hunt be planed.

During 2016 until today 34 wolves in Sweden, 10 in Norway and 78 in Finland has died. If the planned licensed hunt will not be stopped, the number of deceased wolves would be estimated to another 24 in Sweden and 47 in Norway, 4 of which have already been shot.
The total of deceased wolves in Norway and Sweden will be 115 which are very worrying since the wolf population suffers from inbreeding and has not increased numerically during the past 2 years. Together with Finland’s deceased wolves the total will be 193 in only one year!

Petition is closing the 12th of december 2016 and will be sent to;
EU, Karmenu Vella Team European commission,
Statsminister Stefan Lövén,
Lantbruksminister Sven-Erik Bucht
Naturvårdsverket.

/Vargskydd