Swiss wolves and swans could face decimation

The Swiss cabinet wants to relax hunting laws concerning wolves, swans and other protected animals, suggesting animal populations should be decimated if they cause serious damage or threaten humans or other species. The cabinet announced on Wednesday its proposed reforms to the hunting law. These will now be discussed by various groups and both chambers of parliament. Problems have arisen in Switzerland since large carnivores started regaining territory. In particular, livestock owners in mountain areas have had a strained relationship with wolves, which attack and kill sheep and goats. Farmers near lakes also complain that their fields are polluted by swan excrement. At present, the Federal Office for the Environment is in charge of granting hunting permits; in future, according to the cabinet’s draft bill, the cabinet would list those species whose population may be regulated – although the final decision of whether protected animals may be shot would be left ...