“We had the hunting in order to increase the acceptance of the wolf. If it does not increase, it is not possible to keep the hunting in the long run. You can not rejoice over the hunt while at the same time sabotage the goal of the Parliament to bring in new healthy wolves. They are interlocked," says Andreas Carlgren to daily Svenska Dagbladet.
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Anders Carlgren.
Photo: Victor Brott |
Today the Government gave its mandate to the Board of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency and the State Veterinary Office to begin preparing for the planting of wolves from the eastern population to Sweden.
Up to 20 wolves with Eastern origin will be move here within five years time.
The authorities are supposed to consult with, among else, the hunting organizations about how the planting shall be carried forward. But the National Hunters' Association has stated that they do not want to cooperate on a re-population of wolves. And at the Swedish Hunters Association, which organizes the most hunters (193 000 members), opinion is divided.
“We think there should be enough with the relocation of wolves who cause trouble in the reindeer herding area. But we accept the Government's decision and work from there, though the risk is that the migration of wolves from another country rebounds on acceptance at large," says Torbjorn Lövbom from the Swedish Hunters Association.
In the province of Dalarna, central Sweden, the local chapter of the Hunters' Association have said no to a re-population of wolves. On the national level the organization makes demands that must be fulfilled before they can accept a re-population. A relocated wolf ought to have a protection of one year, after having had one litter it should be allowed to hunt again. If the animal is a "problem wolves" it shall be hunted. The National Hunters' Association also believe that the area where the new wolf is released ought to be compensated by having another of the wolves in the existing population to be shoot.
Policy based on three pillars
But minister Carlgren stresses that the wolf policy is based on three interlocked pillars: the licensed hunting, the new wolves introduced into the country, and that decisions about predators should be taken at the county level, rather than at the national level. If one of the components is not fulfilled, none of the other pillars will hold.
The minister also called on conservationists to pause for a moment.
“I have difficulty understanding that the conservation side opted to push the debate so loudly. They know that we need new wolves and they know that it is hard to create acceptance for it. It would be good if they engage in a dialogue with the hunters and the rural population”.
Earlier articles:
20 to 40 wolfs to be shoot
Wolf hunt raises mixed feelings
Hunting Violation in wolf hunt investigated
“Wrong” wolfs may have been shot