According to the County Administrative Board, Joplin’s quality of life may have deteriorated since the escape in May 2021. That is because she was then accompanied by other wolverines in the zoo. Now the nearest wild wolverines are far away, in Värmland.
– She is a fertile female in her prime and has the same urge to mate as other animals, but that opportunity is severely limited, says Nelly Grönberg at the County Administrative Board in Västra Götaland.
Court stopped stun darts
The County Administrative Board has previously granted Nordens Ark permission to capture the wolverine Joplin by shooting anesthetic darts. However, a court has revoked that permission.
– The administrative court held that the wolverine was now wild, and since it has not caused any damage, it must not be captured.
“Will live his life in the wild”
Nor may a private person capture Joplin and return it to Nordens Ark: it would break the law to capture a wild animal according to the County Administrative Board.
– It won’t work out, but she will live her life in your wild until she dies. The search for another wolverine can drive her to scour the landscape in a rather stressed manner.
In the autumn of 2021, many were afraid that Joplin would not survive – see about the concerns in the clip below