Wolf Policy in Switzerland: Incompetence Has a Face
Last year, only half as many livestock were killed in Graubünden compared to the previous year. A surprising trend, given the simultaneously higher number of sheep as well as wolves in the canton.
Bern Convention Criticises Wolf Policy
The Bureau of the Bern Convention, a body of the Council of Europe, criticises the management of the wolf population in Switzerland as “extremely alarming” and “arbitrary”.
The new hunting regulations, directed by Federal Councillor Albert Rösti (SVP), have sparked fierce controversy.
The Bern Convention calls on Switzerland to clarify its definition of “serious damage” caused by wolves and to submit an updated report on the wolf population. The killing of more than 50 wolves last winter, without any evidence of sheep attacks, has raised concerns. As the «Tages-Anzeiger» reports, citing data from the canton of Valais, not a single one of the 50 wolves shot had killed a sheep. This is indicated by DNA samples taken from attacked animals, which allow attribution to a specific wolf.Tages-Anzeiger» reports, citing data from the canton of Valais, not a single one of the 50 wolves shot had killed a sheep. This is indicated by DNA samples taken from attacked animals, which allow attribution to a specific wolf.
Ordinance Contradicts the Hunting Act
The rapid changes to the hunting regulations for wolves have provoked internal criticism. Legal conflicts have arisen both with the Bern Convention and with Swiss hunting law. Several complaints against the shooting orders for wolves in the cantons of Graubünden and Valais are pending before the Federal Administrative Court.
The Swiss Hunting Act itself directly contradicts the ordinance, which permits, among other things, the complete extermination of a pack once one of its members has caused damage. “In the case of a protected species such as the wolf, the utmost restraint must be exercised,” it states. Federal Councillor Albert Rösti’s ordinance is “entirely incompatible with the Hunting Act”.
Although the ordinance of the SVP Federal Councillor is thus in direct conflict with several pieces of legislation valid in Switzerland, according to the Federal Office of Justice, the massacre is set to resume in September 2024.
83% of killed sheep unprotected
The statistics of the cantonal office for hunting and nonsense Graubünden also show that when the wolf strikes, the sheep were often not adequately protected.
Another figure from the statistics is particularly striking: 83 percent of the sheep and goats killed had not been adequately protected. 58 animals had even lost their lives because no herd protection measures had been taken in advance.
The increased presence of wolves near settlements in recent weeks is a consequence of the uncontrolled shootings. These are all young wolves that were dispersed by the unscientific shooting of their pack.
Dossier: Wolf in Switzerland: Facts, Politics and the Limits of Hunting
