Sweden, Wolf Hunt Open: The decision was made to eliminate the excessive number of animals
Swedish hunters have returned to hunt wolves for the first time in 45 years, after Parliament decreed the need to reduce their numbers in Sweden. Nine wolves were killed in Dalarna County on the first day the new law went into effect.
The hunters have until February 15 to reach 27 culled animals, the maximum number of animals that can be killed, out of a population estimated at 210 specimens. It is estimated that about 10 thousand hunters will take part in the hunt. Every time one of them kills a wolf, he will have to communicate it to the regional authorities, who will keep track of the animals killed.
But according to a Swedish radio "it is possible that the quota set by the government will be exceeded". The Swedish Society for the Protection of Nature has been very critical of the new law, as it would violate EU legislation, as well as seriously endanger the health of Swedish wolves.
For this reason a formal protest was presented by the association to the European Commission. The wolves of Scandinavia are endangered and their hunting has been banned since 1970.
Recently, however, the Swedish Parliament decided that their number should not exceed 210 for problems of coexistence with humans.
Source: La Zampa.it