[Mikael]

Swedish news today

There are no licensed hunting of wolves this winter. The government makes a stop in licensed hunting, but expands the possibilities for controlled hunting of problem wolves, or groups of wolves. In addition, the government temporarily removed the ceiling on the maximum of 210 wolves in Sweden.

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It appears from the Government's response to the European Commission in their criticism of the Swedish licensed hunting of wolves.

According to Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren (C) is thought to restore licensed hunting winter 2012-2013. The abolition of the ceiling of 210 wolves, approved by Parliament, is under Carlgren not to an unlimited number of wolves is allowed in Sweden.

- Of course not. We will achieve a favorable conservation status of wolves, but with so few wolves as possible, he says.

The article continues ...
The extended protection in the winter to hunt under Carlgren based on security grounds. It can be about wolves attacking livestock or that a growing number of wolves has caused inconvenience to residents of the wolf counties.

The Minister can not answer how much the wolf population could be with the new policy.

- I do not want to speculate on it, says Mr Carlgren.

The idea is that the government next year will present a new target for the number of wolves in Sweden.

Carlgren emphasizes that the changes that the Government now decided is necessary for Sweden to retain decision-making power over the Swedish wolf hunting. According to Carlgren was a continued violation of EU Commission on licensed hunting have risked that last for several years before the question was finally settled.

Andreas Carlgren believes that the EU Commission initially acted very rushed and rigid in their dispute with Sweden on wolf hunting.

- Decisions should be made ​​as close to people as possible, therefore, the Commission's action unfortunate, he says.

- Sweden predator policy should be conducted with great consideration and respect for those who bear the consequences of living with a predator, that is, the rural population.

STOCKHOLM TT, translated by Google