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Sweden set to 'get tough' with illegal wolf hunters: minister

Published: 10 Jan 11 09:12 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/31334/20110110/

The Swedish government wants to toughen the country’s hunting laws to make it easier for authorities to combat widespread illegal wolf hunting.

While laws regulating hunting in Sweden are commonly ignored, very few cases are every brought to trial, writes environment minister Andreas Carlgren in a debate article in the Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper.

“The criminalization of attempted and preparations for aggravated hunting crimes can be a useful tool in the fight against illegal hunting,” writes Carlgren.

Ahead of this year’s wolf hunt, which is set to start on Saturday, the environment minister emphasised that Sweden’s long-term goal is that Sweden have a larger wolf pack than it has today.

Carlgren explained that the heated rhetoric surrounding Sweden’s controversial wolf hunt hides the fact that there is “wide support” for the view that there should be strong wolves in Swedish forests and that the strength of Sweden’s wolf pack is contingent on new wolves coming into the country.

In order to realise the government’s vision, which has wide support in the Riksdag, Carlgren said the government would pursue policies to improve local and regional participation in the management of beasts of prey.

In addition, Sweden will work to strengthen the genes of its 200-strong wolf pack, which is thought to have descended from only three individuals.

Finally, Carlgren explained that a limited, licenced hunt is important to keep the size of the pack under control while a new pack size is debated, and for engendering acceptance among residents who live in areas with a high population of wolves.

Controlling the size of the pack will also make it easier to carry out measures to reduce the chances of inbreeded, writes Carlgren.

TT/The Local/dl (news@thelocal.se)

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16:39 January 10, 2011 by GLO
Shame on Sweden for killing wild animals. You should protect all wildlife , except for a single dangerous animal. SHAME

Better to alow people to Hunt illegal Hunters, That would be fair and real sport.
17:46 January 10, 2011 by Tennin
They shouldn't have a wolf hunt at all. SHAME on the so called nature loving government!
17:56 January 10, 2011 by Gabin
Long Life to the Wolf Army----------------
20:04 January 10, 2011 by Tanskalainen
I hope Peter won't be arrested.
01:19 January 11, 2011 by Njal
Stalking a wolf with a high-powered rifle is not hunting; it is slaughter, and there aren't many wolves left.
02:55 January 11, 2011 by waffen
Man does not have dominion over the other living creatures on this planet, man has stewardship of the other living creatures on this planet.

Murdering wolves with a high-powered rifle, especially from the air, or poisoning or trapping wolves, are all low and vile acts that are perfomed by certain aberant members of homo-sapiens, and those acts are allowed by an equally aberant number of homo-sapiens who have the authority to do so.

The sooner that both groups are removed from the gene pool, the better for the creatures on this planet.
08:01 January 11, 2011 by flintis
Disgusting that we humans murder so many of other species,
20:08 January 14, 2011 by budpg
In the US when hunters don't get their own way they poach. The hunters prefer to hunt their game from their pickup trucks in between beer burps. If they try to hunt on your private property and you question them they have been known to threaten elderly women and their families. Wolves are not the only species to have an inbred gene pool
06:43 January 19, 2011 by skippadoodoo
People in the US anually poach over 100 million animals (source- Humane Society of the United States). You in Europe should be setting the example for the Neanderthals in America who make a national pastime out of killing animals for fun (sport hunting).
19:02 January 21, 2011 by rohermoker
As some you have seen my past posts on other hunting issue's, I am in full agreement the illeaglle hunting, fishing or gathering of any resource. is theft, and should be treated as such.
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