These cases are not mere footnotes. They exemplify how far hunting policy has strayed from the rule of law and scientific principles, and increasingly requires correction by the courts.
In Norway, the charges reveal a structural problem. The investigations are not targeting isolated incidents, but rather organized forms of illegal hunting . The fact that the law is being systematically violated specifically with regard to strictly protected species such as wolves and lynxes sheds light on the acceptance of species conservation within certain hunting circles. The recurring rhetoric of "necessity" and "control" here clashes head-on with criminal law.
In Sweden, the conflict is increasingly shifting from hunting authorities to the courtrooms. Decisions regarding wolf hunts for 2026 are no longer primarily made on political or technical grounds, but rather on legal ones. Courts are halting hunts, reviewing permits, and citing insufficient legal foundations. This sends a clear signal: the legitimacy of hunting predators has become so fragile that it can no longer be enforced without judicial review.
This development is not a unique Scandinavian phenomenon. It reflects a European trend that is also visible in Switzerland . Where hunting policy is increasingly driven by ideology, lobbying, or symbolism, authorities lose credibility. The result is a shift of conflicts into the realm of the rule of law.
Particularly striking is the discrepancy between official communication and actual practice. While hunting associations continue to speak of sustainable wildlife management, investigations, indictments, and court-ordered halts paint a different picture: a lack of self-regulation, overstepping of boundaries, and a systematic underestimation of legal limits.
to wildlife conservation . On the one hand, court rulings demonstrate that the rule of law and species protection still hold true. On the other hand, these cases show how fragile these protective mechanisms have become when they constantly have to be defended against hunting policy interests.
Developments in Scandinavia make clear what is also relevant for Switzerland: hunting predators is no longer a purely technical issue, but a democratic, legal, and societal one. Anyone who continues to claim it is simply a matter of population control is ignoring the growing number of criminal proceedings, court rulings, and institutional conflicts.
Participate in this campaign: Due to the disastrous policies of Federal Councillor Albert Rösti (SVP), request a waiver of federal and cantonal taxes from your local council following the recently approved culling of wolves in Switzerland. You can download a sample letter here: https://wildbeimwild.com/ein-appell-fuer-eine-veraenderung-in-der-schweiz/
