Petition for protection for the wolves in Switzerland

[Nebelwölfe]

Right now, in canton Valais in Switzerland a wolf is given free for being shot, because it killed some sheep - although the wolf is strictly protected.

Now there is a petition for protection of the wolves in Switzerland. Here the translation, if you would like to join in:

In Switzerland, there are currently about 10,000 sheep farmers who care for approximately 420,000 sheep. Around 250,000 of them as well as further 20,000 goats pasture in the Alps during summer, less than half of them are herded.

A WWF study sais, that - paradoxically - each season, at average about 5% - or about 12,000 sheep - have an accident in the mountains , most of them because they are not supervised by the sheep farmers and shepherds. They die of disease, chasms, rocks, fences, lighting, dog tears, injuries, etc.

2009 there were 11 different wolves in Switzerland, in 2008 there were 20 wolves. In 2008 177 "animals" were torn by wolves, in the current year 2010 - until 27/07/2010 -, exactly 54 sheep.

For more than 98% of all sheep that died in the last years during the summer grazing in the mountains, the wolf cannot be held responsible!

Under current law the wolf is a strictly protected species. Kills are allowed by law only in exceptional cases, in particular loss of endowed animals. But the exemption has long been the rule in Switzerland. Switzerland has one of the highest wolf kill rates in Europe, even higher than in most countries where wolves are hunted.

A permit for hunting wolves is issued according to law if he kills 25 sheep in one month or 35 within four months. Therefore, in the canton Valais have been hunted and killed several wolves - this, even though the wolf is under national law and international conventions (Bern Convention) a strictly protected animal.

The sheep breeders, however, are still not satisfied and ask for even more liberal regime in the shooting wolves. Of course there are also the hunters who make “bad mood” here.

Swiss population cares very much about lynx and wolves. A survey by “Pro Natura” shows, that the majority of it is against the shooting of the predators only for reason of maintaining game and fish population for hunters and fishermen. 72 percent oppose that lynxes or wolves are shot for the reason of asset of deer and chamois remains constant for hunting. Similarly, 69 percent are against the hunting of fish-eating birds for ensuring the crop of the fishermen.

We recommend not to consider any holiday planning in canton Valais, since in this district everything seems to go wrong. While other Swiss cantons as well as Italy have achieved successful herd protection during the last years, it seems that canton Valais is still in the deepest sphere of darkness. It appears the militant government in Sion prefers to kill rather than to implement already provided solutions.

The petition demands that the protection for the wolf (and bear, lynx) is not untightened and that the Bern Convention is fully respected.
Furtheron the petition demands that the public does not have to take over the role of sheep and beef farmers furthermore with direct payments from goverment. Instead farmers have to start to take care for the protection of their animals themselves. Lack of protection of animals must be punished.