Swiss canton carried out 20 of 44 authorised wolf kills

Canton Graubünden in eastern Switzerland had shot 20 wolves by January 31 this year. The canton originally had wanted to shoot 44 of the at least 90 wolves living in Graubünden by January 31. However, 13 of these culls approved by the Federal Office for the Environment were blocked on December 8 by objections from environmental organisations. This left 31 authorised shoots. Of these, 20 were carried out. Only six of these kills were carried out in accordance with the hunting regulations, which were relaxed from December 1. Until January 31 these regulations allowed so-called proactive kills, which can also be carried out without damage to livestock caused by packs. Fourteen of the kills were carried out reactively in accordance with the old law after wolves had killed large numbers of sheep and goats. + Wolf hunting controls relaxed in Switzerland The canton was unable to achieve its goal of eradicating four of the 12 wolf packs in Graubünden. Two of these “complete removals”...