Planned Wolf Culls Endanger Sustainable Protection of Livestock and Pack Structures

In eight cantons, young animals or entire wolf packs can be preemptively culled. The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) has approved all regulation requests, except one in the canton of Ticino, as revealed in a fact sheet published by the federal office on Thursday.

Wolf packs are highly complex social communities, where experienced leaders provide guidance. Targeted killing of leaders has far-reaching consequences: if a pack is deprived of its key individuals, the established structure collapses, leading to the immigration of inexperienced young wolves or solitary animals. These animals are often less shy and less experienced in hunting wildlife. They more easily turn to livestock and cause corresponding damage. Studies and experiences from other countries clearly show: in functioning packs with stable structures, the likelihood of attacks on livestock is generally lower. Therefore, these social structures must be preserved in the interest of both humans and animals.

The recent decisions by FOEN not only envisage individual culls but also the removal of entire packs. The STS rejects this practice outright. The removal of an entire pack creates a 'wolf-free zone' in the short term, but wolves in search of their own territory quickly reoccupy these areas, according to experience. This leads to unnecessarily high losses, renewed conflicts, and puts genetic diversity under pressure – a vicious cycle is set in motion that burdens both sides. Wolves are part of a natural balance. A wise approach to this species means respecting pack structures and actively promoting their preservation – a central concern of the STS.

Of particular concern is that culling leaders or reducing pack numbers can lead to changed hunting strategies. The remaining animals are often less experienced, increasingly seek the proximity of human settlements, and are less deterred by people. This increases the risk of attacks on livestock and places additional pressure on farmers. A sustainable coexistence between humans and wolves is only possible if wolves are perceived as socially intelligent beings and accordingly protected. The repressive culling policy, however, leads to an escalation and undermines the efforts of many farmers to effectively protect their herds.

The Swiss Animal Protection STS therefore urgently calls on the FOEN to reconsider the authorisations and to seek sustainable and workable solutions, together with experts from science, nature and animal protection, as well as agriculture. Culls should be applied only as a last resort – not in a short-sighted and blanket strategy. Instead, differentiated approaches are needed: protection of livestock must be improved through targeted preventive measures, pack structures must be maintained, and public acceptance of the wolf must be strengthened.

The STS also demands a consistent, scientifically-based practice for wolf culling and management. This includes the development and updating of a nationwide wolf concept by the FOEN.