Poisoned She-Wolf: House Search at SVP Member of Parliament
A she-wolf was found dead near Jaun in the canton of Fribourg, in all likelihood poisoned. The public prosecutor's office has launched criminal proceedings and conducted a house search at an SVP member of parliament. More on the wolf in Switzerland.
The she-wolf found dead last Friday evening near Jaun in the canton of Fribourg was in all likelihood poisoned.
The public prosecutor's office, represented by Alessia Chocomeli-Lisibach, has a suspected perpetrator in its sights and has launched criminal proceedings for violation of the Animal Protection Act . The individual in question is believed to be hobby hunter and member of parliament Roger Schuwey from Jaun. He denies any wrongdoing, according to Schweiz Aktuell.
The poacher Roger Schuwey is no stranger to the authorities. As far back as 2013 and 2015, the passionate hobby hunter was convicted by the Fribourg public prosecutor's office for violations of the Animal Protection Act and the Hunting Act . Incomprehensibly, he still holds his hunting licence.
Several Animals Found Dead
Last week, between 6 and 9 June 2017, a wolf, a cat, a badger, a red kite, and six foxes were found dead on the territory of the municipality of Jaun. The she-wolf was found just 200 metres behind the Hotel zur Hochmatt, where SVP politician Schuwey runs a restaurant. Examinations at the Animal Pathology Institute of the University of Bern have shown that the she-wolf was likely poisoned. It may, however, be several more weeks before an autopsy report is available.
It also remains unclear whether the dead she-wolf is F13, an animal that had previously been spotted in the area.
Poison and Undeclared Weapons Seized
A large deployment of game wardens and police officers searched the home of the Fribourg cantonal councillor on Saturday evening. A PET bottle containing poison was found during the search. Bowls filled with leftover meat were also seized, along with five undeclared rifles and a loaded carbine, as «La Liberté» reports. Roger Schuwey commented: "The PET bottle contains ant poison, which I received from a friend a long time ago. The leftover meat was taken by the police from waste containers and comes from the restaurant. For the weapons, I will now pay a fine and register them."
The perpetrator faces up to three years in prison.
The judicial authorities are therefore calling on pet owners and walkers with animals in the Jaun FR region to prevent their animals from rummaging through discarded waste.
Update 20.6.2017: Second proceedings opened
In connection with the female wolf found dead near Jaun FR at the beginning of June, a second set of proceedings has been opened, on suspicion of breach of official secrecy. The reason is that a police log came into the hands of a journalist. The newspaper «La Liberté» had listed objects found by police in the house, citing the police log. A spokesperson for the Fribourg public prosecutor's office told a news agency on Monday, 19.6.2017, that proceedings had been opened against persons unknown on suspicion of breach of official secrecy. The spokesperson said this was an offence prosecuted ex officio. Schuwey's lawyer has also filed a complaint.
Update 21.6.2017: Dead wolf is female wolf F13
Genetic analysis of the spleen has confirmed that the female wolf found dead in a field above Im Fang (Jaun) on Friday, 9 June 2017, is indeed the female wolf F13. There is no information on the whereabouts of the male wolf M64.
The results of the genetic analysis of the spleen of the female wolf found on 9 June in a field above Im Fang are now known. The "Laboratoire de la Conservation" at the University of Lausanne has determined that it is the female wolf F13. This female wolf was first genetically identified in May 2014 in the Pre-Alps of the canton of Fribourg and had her territory between the cantons of Fribourg (Pre-Alps) and Bern (Alps).
Knowing that the wolf is a territorial species that does not tolerate the presence of conspecifics in its territory (except members of its own pack), the Office for Forest, Wildlife and Fisheries (WaldA) had already suspected that this was the same female wolf. This was confirmed today.
In the summer of 2016, thanks to monitoring by the WaldA in the canton of Fribourg, a new wolf was identified (the male M64). He had already been genetically recorded for the first time in the Val de Bagnes region (VS) in January 2016. Observations by the WaldA confirmed that the two animals were travelling together from the beginning of summer 2016 until mid-March 2017. According to Annex 4 of the Wolf Concept Switzerland (2016), the two wolves could not yet be considered a pair.Poaching remains one of the greatest obstacles to the wolf's return to Switzerland.
The WaldA currently has no information on the whereabouts of the male M64.
