On 2 August the canton Valais in southwestern Switzerland has given permission to shoot at will on a wolf in the area. Authorities claim that the animal has brought down various sheep and cows. Nature conservation organizations like EuroNatur or WWF Switzerland criticize the approach as rash and instead demand better protective measures for herds.
Chased predator – there is still defensive demeanor against wolves in many places
© Wolf Steiger
EuroNatur is convinced that shooting does not solve the problem. Effective wolf management, however, can defuse conflicts between humans and wolfs previously. Furthermore, dogs are especially helpful in the protection of herds, which has been proved in countries like Bulgaria, Croatia, or Romania, where traditional herding forms are still in use.