On Wednesday, the Ministry of Climate and the Environment posted a picture on Facebook of State Secretary Aleksander Øren Heen and felling leader Halvor Sveen together with a shot wolf.
In the caption, they wrote that the license hunt for wolves outside the wolf zone is underway, and that the Secretary of State was in place to talk to the hunters and the felling leader.
It immediately set fire to the comment field, where several react.
– Most tone deaf FB status I have seen from a ministry.
– This was disappointing Ministry of Climate and the Environment (Norway). Such posts help to increase the level of conflict further, writes another.
Furthermore, the discussions hail, with strong shots from both sides of the debate. The Ministry itself has pointed out in the comments field that they remove posts that can be perceived as offensive, offensive or threatening.
– There is a violent arrogance towards people
– Shows the realities
Secretary of State Heen does not want to say too much about the reactions that have come.
– The picture only shows the realities of a wolf being shot. I know many people react to it, but it is nothing new. This was a locally arranged hunt, where things were done according to the rules, says Heen to Dagbladet.
– Do you understand that there will be reactions?
– I do not take a position on all the reactions that have come. People have the right to express themselves. The Storting has set the population target for wolves. Now the population has been higher. Then you must allow hunting of wolves.
– Must stop
Former Minister of Climate and Environment, the Liberal Party’s Ola Elvestuen, is strongly critical of the government’s efforts to reduce the number of wolves, but will not criticize State Secretary Heen for the picture.
– Even I thought it was more interesting to see live wolves when I was in the ministry. But licensing is a key part of the administration, posting the picture is a choice they make, before continuing.
– With wolves, there are many who have strong meaning. On both sides of the debate, there are many who cross the line, they must stop, says Elvestuen to Dagbladet.
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– Threat to democracy
Felling leader Halvor Sveen, who is in the picture, says he does not understand any of the reactions that have come.
– It’s perfectly legal. I think it is good that the ministry is coming to see how their decisions are implemented in practice, we appreciate that. The criticism is a threat to democracy, says Sveen.
Sveen also became a well-known name for Norwegian TV viewers after won “Farms” in 2017.
He believes the hunters are making an important voluntary effort, with something that would otherwise cost between 500,000 and one million kroner, according to Sveen.
– Do you understand that someone can be repulsed by the picture with a dead wolf being posted?
– No, not at all. The wolf lay there nicely dandered, there is no blood. It was killed on a shot. The moment we are going to start hiding legal actions, something is terribly wrong, Sveen answers.
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