Swiss parliament makes it easier to hunt wolves, bears and ibexes
Parliament has agreed to renounce adopting national level hunting regulations thereby allowing cantons to make it easier to hunt protected species.
This content was published on
2 minutes
SDA-Keystone/ac
It took a special round of debates in both chambers to agree on the final wording of the controversial legal reform on Thursday.
The revision of the Swiss Hunting Act will do away with restrictive provisions like authorisation of the hunting of a protected species only when it kills a certain number of sheep, for example. Instead cantons will have the freedom to decide when an animal must be culled after consulting the Federal Office for the Environment.
However, certain condition must still be met. Cantonal hunting regulations should not pose a threat to the viability of the population of a protected species. There should be enough animals to maintain a functioning ecosystem and conserve species diversity. The management of wild populations should also be adapted to the situation at a regional level. The Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats External linkwill be respected, according to the Federal Office for the Environment.
Dilution of protections
Concerning wolves, culling will be allowed from September 1 to January 31 and for the ibex from August 1st to November 30th. The government may extend culls to other protected species. The reform will also make it possible to kill an overly familiar bear that repeatedly enters villages in search of food.
Action may be taken when an animal causes damage or poses a danger to humans but threshold for this has been lowered. All culls must be conducted by a hunter or game guard and action can be taken when the animals exhibit behaviour that attracts attention. There will be no possibility for appeal against cantonal decisions concerning animals that can be hunted.
However, environmental and animal protection organisations, supported by the left of the political spectrum, have announced that they will collect signatures to force a nationwide vote on the legal amendments.
More
More
Big, yes, but bad? Carnivore divides Swiss opinion
This content was published on
Emotions run high whenever this elusive creature appears. As wolves make a comeback in Switzerland, they spark feelings of awe and fear.
Should raw milk sales be banned or should consumers decide?
Swiss food regulations do not allow raw milk to be sold for direct consumption. However, a loophole allows 400 raw milk vending machines to do just that.
AI can reduce the number of animals needed for research
This content was published on
Swiss researchers have developed a new, AI-supported method that analyses the behaviour of mice in the laboratory more efficiently.
Geneva Conventions conference on Middle East scheduled for March 2025
This content was published on
The conference on the Middle East of the 196 States party to the Geneva Conventions, organised by Switzerland, will take place in Geneva in March.
Swiss university graduates are popular hires worldwide
This content was published on
Graduates of Swiss universities are popular with international employers, according to the Global Employability University Rankings.
French cross-border workers in Switzerland fear ‘discriminatory’ unemployment reform
This content was published on
In the French region around Geneva, cross-border workers are protesting proposals to cut unemployment benefits for those working in Switzerland.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Love or hate the wolf? Depends where you live
This content was published on
In Switzerland, defenders and opponents of the wolf form irreconcilable camps. Two decades after the return of the predator, which is protected by an international convention, the country is still polarised.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.