Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Rona
?!I belive this is more a philosophical issue rather than operational (how many wolves, where, why etc.) Some people claim the right to control every bit of land, decide about life and death of each wild animal etc. others feel that humans are just a part of nature and we should try to find best means of coexistance. Everybody can choose between these option now, but if too many chose the first one, our grandchildren will have no such choice...  |
From my point of view this is turning the whole matter upside down
At first: The historical facts show that the wolves of Norway (except from occationally stray individuals) was exterminated due to severe hunting approx 200 yrs ago. Based on this new farms were established and the farmers could have an income based on farming and harvesting the nature. By late 1960s the Swedish Government allowed family groups of wolves to stay in a protected area and in the late 1970 the Norwegian Government did the same based on the fact that "Swedish" wolves entered the Norwegian side of the border from the protected Swedish area. The resistance against this from farmers and supporting groups was severe as they claimed this as a threath to their income and way of living.
There is no evidence of the origin of the Scandinavian wolves. Those in favor of the wolves says they are individuals hailing from Russia/Finland/Estonia, - the opposite side claims to know they are a part of a Governmental clandestine attempt of reintroducing the wolves into Scandinavian nature by letting wolfs from Swedish Animal Parks or Zoological Gardens enter the nature.
Many of those in disfavour of the wolves on both sides of the Norwegian/Swedish border should like to see the whole pack exterminated. Those in favour would like to see the wolves living free as a part of our nature. And as you say: ".. we should try to find the best means of coexistance". From my point of view this means that as little loss as possible made by wolves should be brought upon livestock, and reduction of life quality of those humans living in or close to the protected areas should be kept as low as possible and close to none. From the farmers point of view this means a number of wolves as close to none as possible, - for the other side this means that the number of wolves should not extend the reccomendations made by our experts.
There is no doubt that the myths of the wolf is determining peoples view of these animals. These are also a used as a weapon in the hands of those disfavouring the wolf. Even if myths and opinions should be fought against by knowledge, thousand years of myths and misunderstanding is not wept away in a few decades.
Partly related to this: Last years banning of the CSV in Norway is a minor result of the Norwegian "battle of the wolf".