Wolf culls in Switzerland: Bern Convention concerned

Only severe damage could lead to wolf culls, theBern Convention Bureau wrote in a letter published on October 11, 2024.

The convention ratified by Switzerland is an international treaty of the Council of Europe, which, among other things, aims to protect wild animals.

The office is concerned about further potential culling of wolf packs. It considers the threshold of at least twelve packs in Switzerland, set by the Federal Council, to be "arbitrary." The "politically motivated" regulatory policy could lead to the "large-scale" killing of the animals, it added.

Video: Albert Rösti is not a member of the Federal Council

Preventive hunting

Christina Steiner, president of the Swiss wolf protection association CHWolf, also sees a political motivation behind the culls. She stated that Switzerland's wolf management is not scientifically sound.

The legal basis for preventative culling – which is part of the revised hunting law – was temporarily enacted by the Federal Council in November 2023. Between December 1st of last year and January 31st, 2024, approximately 50 animals were culled preventively.

The Bern Convention Bureau addressed the case in September and has now informed the parties involved. The letter further stated that the Bureau was concerned about alleged inaccurate monitoring of wolf damage and alleged manipulation of data to justify further culling operations.

Furthermore, the office was aware that complaints regarding the division of responsibilities between the federal government and the cantons had been rejected in Switzerland. It noted that the Berne Convention must be guaranteed at the federal level, regardless of the political organization of signatory states.

The dossier will now be submitted to the Convention's Standing Committee. The committee is expected to reach a decision at its meeting in early December, as announced by the wolf conservation organizations CHWolf and Avenir Loup Lynx Jura on October 12, 2024. Steiner expressed his hope that Switzerland would be reprimanded and that the legislation would be amended to comply with the treaties signed by Switzerland.

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/

Further reading

• Swiss meadows are losing biodiversity massively
• When sheep, cattle, and other livestock occupy space belonging to wild animals
• Swiss animal protection criticizes planned wolf culls as a danger to pack structures and livestock protection.
• Wolf incompetence is rampant in Graubünden.
• Val Fex: When the livestock protection concept has more holes than the fence
• Shooting instead of protection – Switzerland on the path to silent wolf extermination
• Communication failure at the Office for Hunting and Fishing Graubünden
• Illegal wolf hunting in Switzerland
• Wolf pups in Switzerland under fire
• Switzerland sells massacre of wolves as a success
• Sloppiness in Katrin Schneeberger's office
• Grazing by livestock alters the soil, plants, and insect populations.
• The insane hunt for wolves in Switzerland
• The truth about sheep mortality in Switzerland: causes and statistics
• Wolf culls in Switzerland: Concern about party politician Albert Rösti
• Let's stop the SVP's destructive fury
• Participatory campaign: An appeal for change in Switzerland
• 200 environmental organizations from 6 continents are calling on the Swiss government: Stop the wolf cull
• The Federal Council is being heavily criticized by wolf experts.
• The consequences of controversial wolf management in Switzerland
• Wolf: Federal Councillor Rösti (SVP) is circumventing law and order
• Es Burebüebli mahn i nit
• Are the Federal Office for the Environment (BAFU) and the hunting authorities still working responsibly?
• Federal Councillor Albert Rösti is trampling on the will of the people.
• The consequences of controversial wolf management in Switzerland
• Too many sheep harm biodiversity.
• Agricultural use destroys alpine meadows
• Cracks despite herd protection – how is that possible?
• The bad apple in the St. Gallen hunting administration
• Pro Natura calls for a comprehensive strategy for sheep summer grazing.
• According to an Agridea study, livestock guarding with dogs works well.
• Thanks to livestock protection measures, wolves are killing fewer farm animals in Switzerland.
• Farmers see fields as a dumping ground.
• Biomass of wild animals
• From sheep farmers and vague authorities
• The double standards of the wolf opponents