GOVERNMENT OFFICES 
Ministry of the Environment 

Minister for the Environment 

M2010/348/A/Br 

Dear,

Thank you for your email concerning the licensed hunting of wolves in Sweden. 

In recent months, many people, like you, have been standing up for wolves. I welcome this commitment. Wolves are an invaluable part of the Swedish natural environment. 

Hunting wolves has aroused strong feelings. In this answer, I would therefore like to describe the reasons for the Government’s policy, which is supported by a broad majority in the Swedish Riksdag. I would also like to emphasise that one of the purposes of the Government’s efforts is to try to bring together the very strong opinions and feelings that characterise our views of large carnivores in general, and of wolves in particular. The legitimate views of various parties concerned need to converge to enable us to develop the policy for robust populations of large carnivores in Sweden. 

We have established in the Swedish large carnivore management policy that bears, wolverines, lynxes, wolves and golden eagles are to exist in such large numbers that they will remain in the Swedish fauna over the long term. I would like to be clear and reiterate that there should be no doubt: the Government wants healthy wolves in our Swedish forests. For this to be possible, wolves must be able to coexist with other animals and with people. Increasing the influence and acceptance of those concerned in areas in which the wolf population is large is necessary for a robust wolf population in the long term. 

The decision on limited licensed hunting of wolves is part of a package of measures proposed by the Government in the bill ‘En ny rovdjursförvaltning’ (A new large carnivore management system) (2008/09:210). The new large carnivore management system means that there will be a temporary limit on the rate of growth of the wolf population, measures to strengthen the genetic status of the wolf population and greater regional responsibility and local influence. This is in line with the Guidelines for Population Level Management Plans for Large Carnivores laid down by the European Commission in 2008. 

The fact that the Swedish wolf population has grown rapidly in recent years does not mean that we are on the way to achieving a robust wolf population. What is crucial for a robust wolf population in the long term in Sweden is that new wolves are introduced. Contrary to what is sometimes claimed, researchers are in agreement. Facts from the research reports submitted to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency show that inbreeding threatens the wolf’s ability to reproduce in the long term. In some cases, litters have been halved. The Swedish wolf population is descended from three individuals and on average is considerably more related to each other than would be the case if animals from the same litter were to produce offspring. Some of these wolves already show injuries that are a visible sign of considerable inbreeding. According to these research reports, several cases of cryptorchism (which can lead to sterility) and vertebral defects (that can lead to paralysis), heart disease and kidney disease have been observed. The researchers state that one out of every ten to twenty-five wolves show these injuries, but that considerably more carry such genes. The forthcoming DNA tests will show the genes of the wolves culled. 

For the first time, the Government is now setting a target and initiating measures to strengthen the genetics of the wolf population. This means that up to 20 wolves will be integrated into the wolf population of this country over the next five years. First and foremost, all natural migration from Finland/Russia will be facilitated by actively protecting the migrant wolves within reindeer husbandry areas and moving them southwards through the country. Secondly, measures will be taken to relocate wolves crossing over the Swedish border to the central regions of Sweden. Should these measures prove to be insufficient, the third alternative is to relocate wolves from another country. If natural migration does not occur and in order to be well-prepared to enable such relocation, the Swedish Board of Agriculture and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency will shortly be tasked with preparing an active relocation to Sweden of wolves that are not related to the current Scandinavian wolf population. 

Over the past five years, the wolf population has increased on average by 19 per cent per year. Conflicts between people and wolves have increased because sheep and other domestic cattle have been attacked, and for other reasons. In 2008, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency reported that the intermediary target adopted by the Riksdag for wolves had been achieved. When this occurred the Gover