Sheep farmer Einar de Wit lost 20 sheep in a wolf attack.
After a quick investigation, the county administrative board has now decided that there will be no protective hunt for the wolf – despite concerns about more attacks.
– It is an extremely cynical decision, everyone knows that there will be new attacks, says Einar.
The big wolf attack on sheep happened in Brismene, in Falköping municipality last week. But despite a concern about new attacks, there is still no justification for protective hunting. This is what the county administrative board says today after a rapid investigation.
– We cannot open that Pandora’s box by granting protective hunting for just one attack. Therefore we cannot say that this animal is a problem individual after an attack. We need to have repeated attacks, where we can link one or two specific individuals to the attacks, says Mia Bisther, predator officer at the county administrative board in Västra Götaland.
Farmer and sheep farmer Einar de Wit lost 20 of his sheep in connection with the wolf attack.
– It is an extremely cynical decision. Everyone knows that new attacks are coming. Ours was apparently not “horrible” enough. It is extremely cynical to wait any longer, says Einar.
Want the trunk to be limited
As early as Christmas, wolf observations had been made in the area around the farm in Brismene, and as recently as March the county administrative board found that a new wolf pack had been formed. Einar de Wit had warned that an attack was near, and was therefore not particularly surprised when he stepped out into the pasture.
There are currently around 500 wolves in the country. Einar de Wit believes that the government and the Environmental Protection Agency should ensure that it is limited to a tribe of between 170 and 270 individuals, which it has been determined at the level of the Riksdag that is not threatened with extinction.
– I know that the county administrative board is employed and that decisions like this are appealed, but they have the authority and responsibility to decide on protective hunting, says Einar.