Valais wants to shoot more than half of its wolf packs
Published: Friday, Nov 17th 2023, 18:10
Updated At: Friday, Nov 17th 2023, 18:13
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Valais wants to eliminate seven of the 13 wolf packs living in the canton and neighboring areas. This corresponds to the culling of around 34 wolves out of an estimated population of 90 to 120 animals in total.
These figures were announced by Frédéric Favre, the State Councillor responsible for security, institutions and sport, in his response to two urgent postulates in the Grand Council on Friday. Favre thus announced part of the strategy for regulating the wolf, which the mountain canton intends to present next Monday.
The canton of Valais submitted a corresponding application to the Federal Office for the Environment on November 15. Favre hopes that the permit will be received by December 1. In order to achieve the shooting target of 34 wolves, the canton is relying on hunters who have to complete special training.
Preventive culls - in addition to the culls already practised in response to herd attacks - should be possible in future between September 1 and January 31 if the herd poses a threat. Exceptionally, culls could also be permitted in summer under certain conditions in order to protect livestock, as Favre went on to say.
As many kills as permitted
In view of the State Council's explanations, the authors of the two postulates nevertheless stuck to their respective texts. The Grand Council adopted that of the SVP Oberwallis by 64 votes to 57. The text calls in particular for "as many wolves to be killed as permitted by the new ordinance" and for "a group of employees to be appointed to regulate wolves".
The cantonal parliament also adopted that of Mitte Oberwallis by 65 votes to 58. This postulate deals in particular with the planning of the organization with the other cantons concerned. Both texts were referred to the State Council.
With the relaxation of wolf protection in Switzerland, wolves can now be shot before they have caused any damage. This affects not only individual animals, but entire packs. The Federal Council approved the amendment to the Hunting Ordinance at the beginning of November.
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