Federal Council wants to check new tactics

The wolf returned to Switzerland 30 years ago. Life with the large predator is simply a new reality, say environmental associations. But the parliament has a different idea.

When the wolf returns to Switzerland, there is initially horror. « The » Bestie « from Val Ferret in Valais has again struck in neighboring Val D’Entremont: According to the newspaper » Nouvelliste « the bloodthirsty four -legged friend tore two e -vigor, three other animals were injured, » does not write the boulevard, but the otherwise sober Swiss dolphano agency.

The sensationalism recorded half Switzerland in 1995. Self-appointed zoologists emit their judgments, others speculate, behind the story of peasant sleeping shepherds: « However, for a lucky coincidence that the Federal Office for the Environment, Forest and Landscape for fourteen days before the first attack on the compensation of future wolf and bear tears sent the magazine » Facts « .

Only in the following spring states photo traps: The wolf is back in Switzerland after more than a century. Thirty years have passed since then and the inventory is growing rapidly. New puppies are born every spring; 300 wolves are supposed to roam Switzerland. There were also sights in the urban area.

« As a wild animal that walks between cultural and natural landscapes, the wolf challenges the human control needs in the rich, organized and safe Switzerland, » writes the environmental organization Pro Natura on the occasion of the anniversary.

Almost 100 wolf firing since September

In fact, the debate about the most prominent Swiss predator often takes place along the city-country axis. A hunting law that had planned for kills failed in autumn 2020 just on the urn – and last but not least thanks to voices from the cities. In the subsequent summers, however, more and more shocking messages from cracks and wolf views hunted.

Finally, Environment Minister Albert Rösti (SVP) took it through: He blew about the proactive wolf hunt after the parliament adopted a new hunting law and the environmental associations had plugged into their resistance.

Since then, preventive kills have been possible throughout the winter. Almost 100 were in the past hunting period. Among them is the pack of Fuorn, which was partly at home in the Swiss national park. The institution resisted as vehemently and in vain against the kills. The responsible Federal Office plans to draw a balance sheet at the end of the month.

The number of livestock cracks began to stagnate beforehand: around 1000 were in 2024 and 2023. In statistics, the year 2022 marked an outlier with almost 1800 cracks. All in all, tungsten make up a deep single -digit percentage of all sheep that dies annually. Many die from diseases, stone chips or storms.

« Becoming a norm » « 

The wolf has become a Swiss normality, says Pro Natura. The necessary measures for a conflict -poor coexistence are well known, as is the fact that there is no simple patent recipe. « On the fact that the wolf is seen less as a projection surface and more as a matter of course of our nature, » writes the nature conservation organization for 30 years of wolf return. It sounds like a pious wish, which, however, rapidly in the Bundeshaus.

Last summer, the National Council’s environmental commission transferred a postulate that required the examination of defense shots. The model is France, where not only hunters, but also shepherds arm themselves. What this should look like in Switzerland is still completely unclear. According to the applicant Michael Graber (SVP/VS), shepherds should not just aim in the air, but should target a approaching wolf.

David Gerke, managing director of the Wolf Switzerland group, defends himself against this. He referred to this newspaper for experiences from abroad: France was that country in Europe with the greatest damage caused by wolves, both in absolute numbers and in cracks Pro Wolf – although the defense shot, the « Tir de Défense », has long been possible there.

Gerke: « The scientific studies in France show that the » Tir de Défense « does not lead to a decline in cracks. » This was also followed by Pro Natura: « The fact that animal owners without hunting qualifications or hunters on behalf of an animal owner – and not the canton – wolves are too far, » says specialist expert Sara Werli. Currently, only trained gamekeepers are allowed to reproduce the wolf with a special permit.

However, it has been clear since last week what the Federal Council’s attitude looks like in this matter: he considers the idea to be worth checking and requests the acceptance of the postulate, which makes it much more likely to make arms armed in the future.