Within the space of a year, the wolf population has grown in Switzerland. According to the latest estimates of the Swiss Wolf GroupExternal link released on Sunday, at least seven wolf packs live in the country compared to four in the previous year. A pack is defined as a territorial wolf population of three or more socialised animals of both sexes.
The updated figures are from the biological year that runs from the beginning of May 2019 to the end of April 2020. Assuming a minimum of seven wolf packs, it is estimated that there are now between 60 to 70 wolves in Switzerland.
The packs live in the cantons of Graubünden (Surselva, Obersaxen, Beverin), Valais (Val d’Anniviers, Val d’Entremont, Chablais) and Vaud (Col du Marchairuz). Solitary individuals are also present in the Bernese Oberland and Central Switzerland. In total, the number of packs could be as many as nine, according to the Swiss Wolf Group. The status of two groups, one in the Calanda massif in Graubünden and the other in the Ticino’s Valle Morobbia, remains unclear.
Distribution of wolf packs in Switzerland (Rudel = pack, Einzeltiere = solitary animals)
Swiss Wolf Group
Seven new births were also confirmed, according to the Swiss Wolf Group; three in Valais and three in Graubünden, and one in the canton of Vaud.
More
More
Wolves: welcome or worrying?
This content was published on
Should an area in south-western Switzerland be a predator-free zone? A local initiative wants to eliminate protected species like wolves.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Legal action filed against Swiss purchase of Israeli drones
This content was published on
Legal action aims to put an end to the delivery of the six Elbit reconnaissance drones already plagued by delays and setbacks.
Higher direct payments fail to curb scrub encroachment on alpine pastures
This content was published on
The scrub encroachment on Swiss alpine pastures leads to the loss of grassland and damages the typical landscape. It is also responsible for the decline in biodiversity. Despite higher direct payments, the bushes continue to spread.
Head of Swiss financial regulator’s Banks division quits
This content was published on
Thomas Hirschi, head of the Banks division of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA will leave at the end of August.
Swiss population satisfied with life according to survey
This content was published on
In a survey, the population of German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland expressed general satisfaction with their lives. Respondents were less happy with politics and their personal finances, according to the online comparison service Moneyland.
WHO ‘extremely concerned’ about growing vaccination scepticism
This content was published on
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), vaccination scepticism and a collapse in funding for vaccination campaigns pose a major threat to the health of the world's population.
High-net-worth individuals prioritise well-being over material possessions
This content was published on
The priorities of wealthy private individuals have shifted against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade disputes. While spending on luxury goods is declining, demand for travel and experiences is unabated.
Swiss researchers sequence genome of 1918 Spanish flu virus
This content was published on
Researchers from the Universities of Basel and Zurich (UZH) have sequenced the genome of the Spanish flu virus, thanks to a sample taken from an 18-year-old Swiss boy who died in the city on the Limmat in 1918, when the pandemic spread around the world.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss parliament makes it easier to hunt wolves, bears and ibexes
This content was published on
Parliament has agreed to renounce adopting national level hunting regulations thereby allowing cantons to make it easier to hunt protected species.
This content was published on
In Switzerland, defenders and opponents of the wolf form irreconcilable camps. Two decades after the return of the predator, which is protected by an international convention, the country is still polarised.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.