Valais: Farmer convicted for killing a wolf
A farmer from Upper Valais shot a wolf that had killed several of his sheep. He was sentenced to a suspended fine.
59-year-old farmer shot protected animal
In October 2022, in Termen in Upper Valais,awolfwas found dead. The man who had shot the animal has now been convicted by the courts, as reported by the «Walliser Bote».
The shooter was a 59-year-old farmer whose herd had been attacked by a wolf. Four sheep died in the attack, eight others were injured.
Suspended sentence
The farmer was convicted by penalty order because he had killed a protected animal, but also because he had possessed a modified, unlicensed weapon.
The fine amounts to 4’000 francs, suspended for two years. The convicted man also receives a fine of 950 francs and must cover the procedural costs of 2’200 francs.
When asked by the «Walliser Bote», the farmer showed no remorse. Killing the predator had been the only solution to prevent his sheep from being attacked again. He accepts the sentence; the verdict is final.
A wolf cleared for culling
It is one of history’s ironies that the cantonal government had approved the shooting of a wolf in the region in July of the same year. The game wardens had failed to shoot the wolf within 60 days. IG Wild beim Wild systematically documentswildlife crime.
Dossier: Wolf in Switzerland: Facts, politics and the limits of hunting
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