The Gruppe Wolf (Wolf Group), which is backed by environmental organisations, says it collected about 25,000 signatures in three months urging the authorities to reconsider a plan to withdraw from an international convention about the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats.
People from all ages and parts of the country supported the presence of wolves in Switzerland, campaigners said in a statement on Wednesday.
They added that they were prepared to challenge any change in the law aimed at lifting protection.
In September parliament approved a proposal relaxing the law against shooting wolves.
Current regulations permit the shooting of any wolf believed to have killed at least 35 sheep over a four-month period or 25 in a single month.
Sheep farmers in mountain regions have long been calling for a change in policy towards wolves because of the damage they cause to livestock, but wolf supporters say the farmers should have better protection for their animals.
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Protection of wolves could be downgraded
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After a heated debate, the House followed the Senate in approving a motion calling on the government to press for a modification to the Bern Convention, which covers the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats. Current regulations permit the shooting of any wolf believed to have killed at least 35 sheep over a four-month period…
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A Swiss student and a well-known wolf expert have joined forces to start developing a device that can monitor a sheep’s pulse and then release a powerful repellent to scare off a predator in the event of an attack. “Our project is still in its preliminary phase,” explained Fabien Matter, a student of infotronics [analogue…
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The number of wolves in Switzerland is expected to rise in the coming years. Yet critics of the current protection strategy say the wolf remains a taboo subject and greater transparency, monitoring and prevention is needed. Since mid-May over 100 sheep have been slaughtered by wolves in cantons Valais, Bern, Fribourg and Lucerne. The Valais…
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