The WWF reports that the Norwegian Directorate for Nature has approved the killing of five critically endangered wolves (Canis lupus), justifying the action as a means of protecting domestic livestock such as sheep. The decision means that hundreds of farmers have been given licenses to hunt the wolves. Norway is home to only about twenty wolves so the license to kill five individuals means one quarter of the wolf population will perish. Already, one female wolf has been shot.

The head of WWF-Norway has strongly condemned the actions of the Norwegian Government:

"If the Norwegian environment minister does not stop this hunt, he will have the dubious honour of allowing the regular hunting of a nationally endangered species. The culling of 20-30% of a population this size is a serious threat to the survival of this species in Norway. This practise is contrary to internationally accepted standards for wildlife management. No other country that I know of has such an aggressive policy towards its wolves." ~ Rasmus Hansson, WWF-Norway.

Conservationists have called upon the Norwegian Environment Minister to put a stop to the hunt. Protected since 1973, the grey wolf population in Norway is listed as critically endangered on the country's Red List of endangered species. The Norwegian Ministry of the Environment is supposed to ensure that viable populations are maintained of all red-listed species. But this responsibility is being neglected as the already small population of wolves in Norway slips below its minimum viable population size. After the cull, only two wolf packs will be left. A population survey of the entire Scandinavian wolf population estimated that at most only 120 wolves remained.

Find out more:

• Norway to Kill 25% of its Wolves (BBC News)
• Norway to Cull a Quarter of its Wolf Population (WWF)

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