Conservation news snapshot Nov 2005

St Vincent: A litter of red wolf pups born on the island is the first in a captive  breeding programme.  Once a top predator in the US it is now estimated that there are fewer than 100 animals  in the wild. - hence the importance of the breeding programme.

Vermont: A federal judge recently ordered the Bush administration to step up efforts  to restore the grey wolf to the area.

Yellowstone: Research has revealed that the decline in the number of elk in the park is  not mainly as a result of wolves but due to attacks by bear which were found to be responsible for 53%  of kills as opposed to 12.8% by wolves - only marginally more than the 11.1% by coyotes.  In  addition it was discovered that bears tend to kill in spring and summer and wolves in autumn and  winter.

Alaska: A big game guide has been convicted of illegally killing wolves whilst  working on a control programme. Nine wolves were found to have been shot from an aircraft owned by David  Haeg.  He was sentenced to 570 days in jail (535 days suspended) a fine of $19,500 ($13,500  suspended) and his aircraft was confiscated. Haeg’s activities are a rare example of illegal wolf-killing in Alaska’s being followed up and investigated. Alaska’s “predator control” program – instigated by “hunting” extremists and gunmen – provides an ideal opportunity for wolf-haters there to slaughter wolves willy-nilly. There are doubtless many more offenders killing many more wolves illegally who have not been brought to justice yet. For more information on and a map of Alaska’s aerial wolf killing program, visit http://www.defenders.org/wildlife/wolf/alaska.html

Idaho: Anti wolf activist, Tim Sundles, has been charged with operating a  website which gives instructions on how to poison wolves with the unauthorised use of pesticides.  He faces a  maximum fine of $100,000 Sundles was previously charged in 2001 for killing a wolf which he said he  shot in order to protect his wife.

Montana: Surveys have revealed that wolf numbers are up from 2004 but are still less  than in 2003.  However, ecologists believe that the state has as many wolves as conditions allow.

United Kingdom: Peter Taylor, an environment consultant has put forward further ideas of  reintroducing wolves to Britain. He admits the difficulties but points out that it has been done successfully  elsewhere in Europe.  The National Trust is supportive of the idea and appears to think that Glen  Affric in Scotland could be a possible site.  Reintroduction, is however, likely to be some way off yet.

Sweden: A dog taking part in a harrier competition near Spjutborg was allegedly  attacked and killed by three wolves - this after the trials organiser had received an assurance from the county  commissioner that the area was wolf free.

A Finnish hunter tourist in Sweden shot a male wolf in Medelpad after he  said it had attacked his dog. The man now faces charges as killing wolves is seriouosly frowned upon by  Swedish courts and recently a man who had shot a wolf which had killed ten of his sheep was jailed for six  months.

Ukraine: Nineteen years after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear plant researchers  say that there is increasing biodiversity in the area and there is evidence that threatened species such  as the wolf  are present. Researchers are however concerned that the 40 different radioactive elements  in the area may produce mutations and/or short life spans.

Authorities in Ukraine allege that a pack of wolves attacked more than a  dozen people in the country's eastern region. One of the wolves was killed and found to be infected with  rabies which may well explain the attacks.

Romania: The Carpathian wilderness in Romania is home to an estimated 3500 wolves and  research carried out by the Carpathian Large Carnivore Project has demonstrated that wolves can  co-exist with people and in fact the animals are now becoming a tourist attraction.  A BBC team  recently filmed wolves walking through the streets of a town and were amazed to find that the local  population were totally disinterested. The CLCP have built a large carnivore centre at Zanesti in Transylvania and  this includes a lecture room, classrooms and a spacious outdoor enclosure for rescued wolves.  A CLCP  spokesman said that local people were beginning to see wolves as being part of their heritage and  something that countries in the west had lost.

Switzerland: Wolves appear to be returning to the Mustair valley in Switzerland after an  absence of around a 100 years.  Swiss wildlife supporters are naturally delighted but,  unsurprisingly, farmers are expressing fears for their livestock.  The Swiss based World Wildlife Federation has said  that the wolf population is only likely to grow if the animals can remain sufficiently distant from humans  and there is sufficient food. They believe that the farmers fears are likely to be unfounded.

Italy: Wolves which returned to the Italian Alps only a few years ago are now under  threat as the 2006 winter olympics site will cut right through the wolve's hunting grounds.  There are  estimated to be between 15 and 18 wolves in the area and it is hoped by wildlife support groups that the  animals will be able to move into a less threatened area.

Italian Roberto Calderoli, leader of the Northern League political party has  admitted that he keeps wolves as pets.  He is adamant that he knows how to look after them and appears  indifferent to the fact that it is against Italian law to keep wild animals privately.  His attitude can  however perhaps be summed up in his own words when he said that he would welcome visits by the authorities as he  always needs fresh meat.

Norway: Kimberley Remen, founder of the recently organised Norwegian Wolf Project  has said that, unless action is taken, wolves in Norway will soon become extinct.  She is organising a  'Live Aid' for wolves programme on a global scale and is seeking help from famous artistes to take part in  concerts.  The programme will also include a 'walk for wolves' which will take place in as many countries as  possible.  The project has received messages of support from all over the world and Miss Remen plans to petition  the Norwegian government in an effort to, at the very least, provide areas in natioinal parks where  wolves will be safe from hunters.

France: Shepherds in the French Alps have held several protest meetings which  included blocking the Tour de France in order to bring the public's attention to the fact that they are allegedly  losing large numbers of sheep to wolf attacks.  One shepherd stated that he had lost 100 sheep in a year and  the total number of attacks was put at 119 with 390 sheep being killed.  A shepherd's spokesman said  that the meat, wool and milk industry worth one billion euros is at stake but ecologists counter this by  saying that French farmers have become so accustomed to the absence of wolves, that they no longer take  precautions to protect their flocks.  It has been strongly suggested to shepherds that they should  enclose their sheep behind fences at night and obtain guard dogs such as the Maremmano which is commonly used  in neighbouring Italy.

Germany: In September 2005, a wolf escaped from a zoo in Gelsenkirchen. The animal  jumped over an electric fence after a fight with another wolf and remained at large for some time.  Police warned local residents not to let children play out of doors and a spokesman said the  wolf would not be easy to catch as it was a very ferocious animal.  Zoo officials however said that  the escaped wolf would not pose any danger to people unless it was cornered.

Finland: A Finnish government institute has estimated that there are between 190 and  210 wolves in the country. The hunting of wolves is strictly controlled and during 2005 only 9 wolves  were authorised to be killed in the reindeer husbandry region (as opposed to 15 in 2004)  and the hunting  of wolves elsewhere in the country is prohibited without a special case permit and even these only  apply to three regions. However the restrictions imposed by the Finnish government are insufficient  to comply with EU regulations and the EU Court of Justice has brought a legal action against  Finland, the basis of which is that the hunting of wolves in the EU is illegal. The European Commission  has declared that it wants the wolf population to increase to around 1000 animals.  However, even this five  fold increase is considered insufficent for the Finnish League for Nature Conservation which  believes that the country could easily support between 3000 and 4000 wolves.  As usual, there  are of course objections amongst the hunting fraternity who say that the EU cannot force  people to live amongst dangerous animals  - even though there are no records of a wolf ever killing  a human being in Finland.