Shooting wolves is a hot topic in Switzerland. Demonstrators protest against the shooting of a wolf, October 2021, at the Col du Marchairuz in canton Vaud.
Keystone / Laurent Gillieron
Parliament has agreed to a more proactive regulation of wolf packs in Switzerland. The number of wolves – and attacks on livestock – in the Swiss Alps has risen in recent years.
On Thursday, the House of Representatives followed the Senate and backed an amendment to the hunting law which allows cantons to proactively regulate the wolf population between September 1-December 31. The government also backs the proposal.
Switzerland is home to an estimated 200 wolves, mainly in the Alps. A rise in attacks on livestock has prompted calls for the wolf population to be limited.
Under existing legislation, the wolf is a protected species and it is only possible to regulate them if significant damage or serious danger has occurred. It should now be possible to shoot the predator before it attacks its prey.
Two years ago voters rejected an overhaul of the hunting laws amid controversy about the regulation of wolves.
More
More
Wolf population thrives in Swiss Alps
This content was published on
The number of wolves in the Swiss Alps will continue to grow even if hunting regulations were to be eased according to experts.
The number of deadly attacks on livestock by wolves has risen sharply in Switzerland in recent years and is expected to surpass 1,000 this year, according to the Kora Foundation, a Swiss wildlife group.
The foundation says 853 farm animals – mostly sheep and goats, but also cows and donkeys – were killed last year by wolves; over 1,000 are expected this year. This would surpass the record of 2020 when 922 attacks were registered; in 2012 there were 112. The main regions affected by wolf attacks are cantons Graubünden, Valais and Ticino.
More
More
More than 1,000 wolf attacks expected this year
This content was published on
The number of deadly attacks on livestock by wolves is expected to surpass 1,000 this year, says a Swiss wildlife group.
The amendment to the hunting law states that wolf packs can be culled when farms are threatened. Gamekeepers will be able to shoot wolves that come too close to inhabited areas and residents, or when sheep and goat protection measures prove ineffective.
The cantons will no longer have to prove the extent of the damage, but will have to justify the control measures and their objectives. They must get the approval of the Federal Office for the Environment.
Most Read Swiss Abroad
More
In Switzerland, New Year brings ‘burqa ban’ and pension hikes
Have you heard something about Swiss diplomacy that you’d like us to fact check?
Not all information circulating about Switzerland’s foreign relations is accurate or well understood. Tell us what you'd like us to fact check or clarify.
Credit Suisse Nazi ties ‘ran deeper than thought’: media report
This content was published on
Credit Suisse is alleged to have withheld details of its historic links with World War II-era Nazi clients, says the Wall Street Journal.
Swiss man faces life imprisonment after Australia drugs arrest
This content was published on
Swiss man, 21, accused of attempting to smuggle 25 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of CHF4.5 million into Australia.
Swiss insurer Helvetia says 500 jobs affected by cost-cutting
This content was published on
Some 500 jobs, including 200 to 250 in Switzerland, are affected by the new operational efficiency measures recently announced by insurer Helvetia.
This content was published on
Significantly fewer new cars were sold in Switzerland in 2024 than the previous year as demand for electric cars and plug-in hybrids declined.
Three Swiss brands among world’s 100 most valuable firms
This content was published on
Three Swiss firms made it into the 2024 top 100 most valuable companies in the world, despite Roche, Nestlé and Novartis falling down the rankings.
This content was published on
The Swiss government wants to ease restrictions for culling the growing number of wolves living notably in alpine regions of the country.
This content was published on
The number of wolves in the Swiss Alps will continue to grow even if hunting regulations were to be eased according to experts.
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.