Preparations for addition of 20 new wolves to Sweden

"We must have vigorous wolves in our forests. We are now developing active measures to ensure that the wolf population is robust. The policy on large carnivores is connected to, and rests on, three pillars: licensed hunting which paves the way for measures to strengthen their genetic makeup, regionalised responsibility based on local influence to promote coexistence between people and predatory animals, and the addition of a maximum of 20 new wolves over a five-year period. This is not a matter of either or, but of both licensed hunting and the addition of new wolves," says Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren.

"The addition of new wolves can take place through natural migration, the relocation of migrant wolves past reindeer grazing areas or the relocation of wolves from another country to Sweden. These measures are necessary to ensure a sustainably robust wolf population," says Mr Carlgren.

Research has ascertained that the Swedish wolf population is showing clear signs of inbreeding depression, i.e. hereditary defects and impaired vitality as a result of inbreeding. Genetic tests that were forwarded by the National Veterinary Institute to the Wildlife Damage Centre in connection with autopsies of the wolves shot are currently being analysed. A report on these will shortly be presented by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. These analyses will show such features as the inbreeding coefficients for the culled wolves and the degree of inbreeding. The analyses, performed by the Museum of Natural History, of skeletal and possible inbreeding defects in, for example, vertebrae will be completed at the end of April.

A maximum of 20 individual wolves with a genetic makeup that has not been affected by inbreeding will be integrated into the Swedish wolf population over the next five years. Naturally migrating wolves will primarily be relocated from reindeer husbandry areas to populations outside these areas in central and southern Sweden. This will probably need to be supplemented by an active introduction of wolves of eastern origin that are not related to the Scandinavian wolves. The wolves will be placed outside reindeer husbandry areas in central and southern Sweden. Provided that these wolves reproduce, it will mean that the level of inbreeding will decline considerably in the long term.

The task assigned to the Swedish Board of Agriculture, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the National Veterinary Institute includes:

• Analysing a suitable donor population from the genetic point of view
• Considering whether an intergovernmental agreement is needed
• Analysing the veterinary measures that are required to prevent disease/parasites
• Assessing the need for other veterinary measures when transporting the animals
• Proposing suitable areas for relocation from biological and socioeconomic perspectives
• Analysing how the relocated wolves will be monitored after being moved
• Showing whether several wolves should be relocated at the same time or whether it is more appropriate for the relocation to take place in stages

A report on this assigment is to be presented by 31 October 2010 at the latest.