National Council: No Wolf Hybrids in Switzerland

The National Council does not want to clarify whether wolves living in Switzerland include hybrids of wolf and dog.

A motion by Roberto Schmidt (CVP/VS), which sought to enforce investigations and culling of hybrids, was rejected by 110 votes to 82.

Federal Council sees no need for action

The Federal Council also rejected the motion, referring to existing law. Recognisable hybrids of wild and domestic animals would already have to be shot today. In the case of wolves, investigations had so far shown no need for action.

«We have already conducted various scientific studies on whether such crossbreeds — hybrids — also exist in Switzerland,» said Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard. «And they simply do not exist. We have no wolf hybrids in Switzerland. All investigations by the federal government and the cantons since 1995 have shown that not a single one of the wolves documented in Switzerland and the Alpine region could be shown to have hybridised with dogs. That certainly could not be determined using your method, Mr Schmidt, whereby appearance alone would suffice to identify this. That, I believe, is an unscientific method that would be quite unsuitable. The wolves in Switzerland are without doubt wild wolves and not hybrids. In that respect, I believe we should trust the universities rather than your critical eye,» the Federal Councillor concluded.

Motion sought to enable culling

National Councillor Roberto Schmidt (CVP/VS) wanted to instruct the Federal Council to appoint an independent, internationally recognised expert. This expert was to determine whether the wolves currently present in Switzerland are pure wolves (Canis lupus lupus) or wolf crossbreeds (so-called hybrids). In the case of wolf crossbreeds, the necessary measures should be taken, the motion by Schmidt stated. Wolf hybrids were to be removed from the population.

In Central Europe, only the Canis lupus lupus (European grey wolf with grey-brown fur) is considered native. Therefore, according to the Hunting Ordinance only this wolf is to be regarded as a protected species.

The Federal Council stated in its response that there is no free-living dog population in Switzerland. Therefore, no need for action should arise in the future either. “Should a case of wolf-dog hybridization occur in our natural environment, however, the cantons would already remove the first generation of such animals immediately on the basis of existing law,” the government noted. The case illustrates exemplarily how the hunting myths of the lobby collide with scientific facts.