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Conservation news snapshot December 2001
France August: A shepherd who claimed that he was mauled by a wild wolf whilst collecting sheep from a high pasture on the edge of the Mercantour National Park says that he only survived because his dogs drove the wolf away. Aime Segur, a 56 year old shepherd attending his flock in the French Alps, said that he was attacked by a female wolf and her two young late in the afternoon. The reason for the attack is a mystery and although Monsieur Segur required stitches for an injury of some kind, there is no actual proof that wolves were responsible. Indeed, they have never been known to attack a human in this area before. In what is almost certainly a typical opportunistic exaggeration, sheep farmers in the French Alps have claimed compensation for over five thousand wolf attacks since wolves were found to have crossed into France from Italy about six years ago. There are now thought to be between 30 and 50 wolves in the area and French farmers are urging the government to lift a hunting ban imposed in 1994 to protect the Alpine wolves. Farming unions claim that there have been over 300 attacks on sheep by wolves this year alone.
Norway Much anti-wolf activity is still in progress following - and in spite of -
the international outcry caused by last winter's controversial wolf cull in Rendalen. Several impromptu hunts took
place during the summer with Rendalen issuing a license to kill another four wolves on 18'th July. Then, on 10'th
August, Norskog and Viken, two of Norways largest forest owning associations publicly announced their intention
to support total eradication of wolves from Norwegian forests - mostly to protect herds of elk for human recreational
hunting. (Elk hunting is virtually a religion in Norway). The Norwegian forests concerned provide the raw material
for much of the news print paper used in Europe. The paper is sold by Norske Skog ASA and labelled as coming from
"sustainable operated forests". Norway's wolf population is currently down to around 16 adult animals
with around another 40 wolves regularly crossing the border between Sweden and Norway. On the positive side, reports
indicate that there has been a good crop of cubs this spring between all the packs on or visiting Norwegian territory
and it is thought that the total population in the area may now be as high as 130. Last February's cull may yet
backfire on the Norwegian government though because a poignant and highly critical film was made of the proceedings
and this has now been released under the title 'The Wolf Hunters'. It has already been screened on Norwegian television
and in Cannes and will doubtless be widely available shortly. Norwegian embassies in Europe are braced for a backlash
of the type they have previously attracted over seal culls.
Lithuania Despite ratifying the Bern convention, the Lithuanian government has recently promised a $100 bounty on wolves. Shortages of natural game, especially in the Eastern and South-eastern areas of the country, have led to increased attacks on livestock and provided the anti-wolf lobby with the usual opportunity to publish exaggerated news stories warning of attacks on everything including grandmothers and little girls in red cloaks. Anti-wolf activists claim that there are as many as 550 wolves in Lithuania whilst figures released by the Lithuanian Green Movement put the population much lower at about 1.5 animals per 10,000 Ha. Lithuania is waiting to join the EU and when it does so, will have to make wolf-hunting illegal although it is expected to lodge a claim for exemption. In an effort to stave off the inevitable slaughter, the Lithuanian Green Movement has started its own farmers' compensation fund for livestock losses. We are investigating this story and will bring you further details in the next newsletter.
USA Yellowstone Wolves were re-introduction to the Yellowstone park in 1994 and 1995 and have thrived under Federal protection. There are now thought to be around 150 wolves in the park and some new packs are beginning to form in territories on or outside the borders of the park. Local ranchers' attitudes to the spread can best be described as patient hostility with most observers awaiting the inevitable illegal shootings and poisonings and livestock loss compensation claims. Most packs in the park have successfully raised litters of cubs this year although all the litters are relatively small. The Yellowstone delta pack who's den site was destroyed by hunting extremists last year, using trucks and off-road vehicles, has this year been blessed with four cubs born at their new den site in the remote Yellowstone delta area. USA Idaho Wolves were re-introduced to Idaho in 1995 and 1996 and despite bitter opposition and regular illegal killing by ranchers and hunters, have successfully increased their numbers to around 16 breeding pairs. Nowhere in the USA is opposition more intense and violent though. On 24'th July this year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for illegally poisoning wolves in central Idaho. At least four of the federally protected wolves - and possibly many more - were poisoned with Compound 1080, one of the world's deadliest substances, banned by Presidential decree only a few years ago. Compound 1080 causes an excruciating and very slow death to any creature coming into even momentary contact with it. There is no known antidote. The Fish and Wildlife Service immediately issued a public health alert, warning backcountry visitors to take extra precautions with their children and dogs. |
