Sweden has lifted a 45-year-old ban on hunting wolves. Thousands of hunters will be allowed to shoot a total of 27 wolves between today and mid-February, when the mating season begins.
Between 180 and 220 wolves are currently estimated to be living in Sweden. Sweden's parliament recently set the maximum number of wolves at 210. The maximum was reached last year and a surplus has since emerged. According to the Swedish hunters federation wolves are attacking more and more reindeers and hunting dogs.
A Swedish environmental group has criticised the move, saying the wolf population has not yet reached a healthy level. By the 1970s the wolf had nearly disappeared from Scandinavia. A hunting ban was subsequently instroduced. Norway and Sweden also launched a joint scheme to reintroduce the wolf in the forests along their common border.
(Photo: Wikipedia)
(Photo: Wikipedia)
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