2. November 2023
Under clearly defined conditions, it will be permitted in Switzerland from December 1, 2023 to PREVENTIVELY regulate wolf packs to avoid damage
A lone wolf in a forest. (Symbol image: Christel SAGNIEZ on Pixabay)
Since the wolf population in Switzerland is increasing exponentially and this poses major challenges, especially for the alpine farming of sheep and goats, the Federal Council of Switzerland approved an adjustment to the hunting regulations at its meeting on November 1, 2023. The aim is to quickly bring the wolf population in Switzerland under control and enable humans and wolves to live together, according to a statement from the Federal Council of the Swiss Confederation.
In doing so, it temporarily brings into force the implementing provisions of a first part of the Hunting Act, which was adapted by Parliament in 2022. From December 1, 2023, preventative regulation of wolf packs to prevent future damage is now permitted under clearly defined conditions.
In 2020, there were a total of 11 wolf packs and just over 100 wolves in Switzerland. There are currently 32 packs and around 300 wolves confirmed in Switzerland. In 2019, wolves killed 446 farm animals in Switzerland. In 2022 there were 1,480 cracks. In order to reduce conflicts between alpine farming and wolves, parliament revised the hunting law in December 2022. Parliament is thus aiming for a change in strategy from reactive to proactive regulation of wolf packs. The cantons are now allowed to shoot wolves to prevent future damage, and not only after damage has occurred.
On November 1, 2023, the Federal Council temporarily brought the first part of the Hunting Act into force and at the same time adjusted the Hunting Ordinance accordingly. According to the Federal Council’s statements, the rapid partial implementation is urgently necessary due to the exponential growth of the wolf population. It enables the cantons to implement preventive pack regulations as early as next December and January. The interested parties and the responsible cantonal conferences were able to comment on the proposal in advance.
Even with the revised hunting law, the wolf remains a protected species.
That’s why the cantons are only allowed to remove entire packs in justified cases. This is under the condition that the minimum number of wolf packs in a given region is exceeded.
Wolves should become more shy again
According to the hunting regulations, Switzerland is divided into five regions. In large regions, at least three packs must be maintained; in small regions there are two packs. In addition, packs that do not cause any damage may not be regulated preventively. Preventative regulation is likely to make wolves more shy again. As a result, the wolf population in individual regions could be higher than the specified minimum number of packs. This means that the wolf population can be preserved in Switzerland while at the same time reducing damage. As before, federal approval is required to regulate wolf packs.
The first part of the revised hunting regulations will initially come into force for a limited period. The Federal Council will submit the now decided provisions for pack regulation together with the remaining implementation of the new hunting law for “consultation” in spring 2024. The entire package is scheduled to come into force on February 1, 2025.
2023-11-03 00:34:20
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