Some wolf packs are being blamed for a higher frequency of livestock attacks.
Keystone / Marco Schmidt
Four wolves from increasingly problematic packs can be shot to deter the others from attacking farm livestock, the Swiss authorities said on Monday.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch/mga
Permission for the cull has been granted by the Swiss environment ministry following complaints that the two wolf packs were attacking a greater number of sheep and cattle.
The cantons of Vaud and Valais, both in southwest Switzerland, will each shoot two wolves from the respective packs that roam the regions. In addition to keeping pack numbers under control, it is hoped the cull will keep wolves away from farming areas in future.
Earlier this month, the Swiss Farmers’ Union pointed out a rise in the number of livestock attacks in both cantons, along with the southeastern canton Graubünden.
“It is becoming clear that the increasing number of wolves and wolf packs is endangering the Alpine economy,” the union argued. “Protective measures are on the one hand expensive and on the other not always effective.”
Wolves kill 300-500 sheep and goats per year, according to the KORA foundation, which monitors carnivores in Switzerland. It is forbidden to shoot wolves in Switzerland without first obtaining permission from the federal authorities.
Last September, voters rejected a proposal to grant cantons greater power to cull wolves that they deem problematic.
More
The Swiss Alps are beautiful, but are they biodiverse?
The demands of a growing human population often clash with the needs of nature, a fact that regularly sparks political debate in Switzerland.
Living longer: What do you think about the longevity trend?
The longevity market is booming thanks in part to advances in the science of ageing. What do you think of the idea of significantly extending human lifespan?
Switzerland to host European Political Community summit in 2027
This content was published on
The EPC summit brings together the continent's heads of state and aims to be a platform for political and strategic discussion on the future of Europe.
This content was published on
An unstable glacier above the Swiss village of Blatten has stopped breaking up, but there is still no question of lifting a landslide alert.
This content was published on
The latest pack contains at least six pups, according to the Graubünden Hunting and Fishing Authority. The sighting adds to the 35-40 wolves in the canton, with some 80 believed to be roaming Switzerland. The first pack was sighted in 2012 in the Calanda region of Graubünden, signalling the return of breeding wolves to the…
Protecting livestock from predators costs Swiss taxpayers millions
This content was published on
The federal government spends CHF4 million (around $4.4 million) a year to minimise the damage caused by predators like wolves and lynx.
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.