Build a wall, wild boar will fall: Denmark erects barrier to keep out German pigs

42-mile fence on border with Germany aims to protect pig farms from African swine fever

Emily Schultheisin Berlin

Mon 28 Jan 2019 11.56 GMTLast modified on Tue 29 Jan 2019 17.41 GMT 

The United States isn’t the only country with a border wall controversy these days. However, Denmark’s planned 42-mile (70km) fence along the German border is intended to keep out not people but wild boars, which authorities say threaten to bring disease to Danish pig farms.

Construction on the fence was beginning on Monday along the northern edge of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Danish lawmakers and the country’s environmental agency approved the project last summer, arguing it would help farmers protect their pigs against African swine fever (ASF).

The disease, lethal for pigs, has not yet been spotted in Denmark or Germany but it is common in eastern Europe and there was a small outbreak in Belgium last autumn.

Though the threat of ASF may not sound alarming on its face, pigs and pork production are no joke in Denmark. The country has nearly twice as many pigs as people – it’s home to more than 12 million pigs across 3,000 farms, compared with a human population of just under 6 million – and pig exports account for billions of pounds annually.

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Wild wolf shot and killed in Denmark

As wild wolves return to Europe, one of the first wolves to settle in Denmark has been shot dead in an incident captured on film

Matthew Taylor

Tue 1 May 2018 18.06 BSTLast modified on Tue 1 May 2018 22.00 BST

One of the first wild wolves to roam free in Denmark for 200 years has been shot and killed, threatening the survival of the species in the country.

Two naturalists who were observing the wolves captured the moment the animal was shot on camera. The film has sparked outrage.

The footage appears to show the animal, a female, being shot by someone in a parked car. The wolf was not posing a threat or being aggressive.

Guillaume Chapron, associate professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences said the killing was “completely unacceptable” with the wolf showing no sign of aggressive behaviour before it was shot but “rather a mix of caution and curiosity.”

“From the video recording of the animal behaviour, there was absolutely no threat to humans and there was also no indication whatsoever that this animal could become a threat.” 

He said it was difficult to find a reason for the shooting “except simple wolf hatred and a belief that humans do not tolerate predators in the landscape”.

“I don’t think we have a problem wolf here but we certainly have a ‘problem hunter’ and such people need to be stopped.”

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Denmark gets its first wild wolf pack in 200 years

Arrival of a female wolf, that trekked 500km from Germany, means the pack could have cubs by spring

Patrick Barkham

Thursday 4 May 2017 17.29 BST Last modified on Thursday 4 May 2017 17.31 BST

A wolf pack is roaming wild in Denmark for the first time in more than 200 years after a young female wolf journeyed 500km from Germany.

Male wolves have been seen in Denmark since 2012 and the new female could produce cubs this spring in farmland in west Jutland after two wolves were filmed together last autumn.

It is further evidence that the wolf is returning to well-peopled landscapes after centuries of persecution, with wolf packs also re-establishing themselves in France and Germany and individuals sighted in Holland and even Luxembourg. Before the new population, Denmark’s last wolf was killed in 1813.

“We expect that they will have cubs this year or the next,” said Peter Sunde, a senior researcher at Aarhus University.

“People were very surprised when wolves first appeared in Denmark but they are highly mobile and are just as adaptable to cultural landscapes as foxes are. The only problem historically is that we killed them.”

DNA from two faeces samples have confirmed that the female wolf came from a pack 25km south of Berlin in Germany before travelling to north-west Denmark, probably leaving her family group last spring to do so.

There is sometimes speculation that wolves are deliberately released into the countryside by unofficial rewilders but according to Guillaume Chapron, a researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, this female’s trek north was entirely natural. “The wolf went on its four legs, it makes complete biological sense,” he said. Wolves can walk 50km in 24 hours and have been recorded making journeys of more than 1,000km across Europe from Germany, where they re-established themselves in 1998. Germany’s wolf population is currently growing at 25-30% each year, with the young dispersing across central Europe.

 

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On the line: call for Danish anglers to help catch escaped trout

Up to 80,000 rainbow trout enter open sea after ship rams aquafarm, raising concerns farmed fish may eat eggs of wild sea trout
 

Jon Henley

Wednesday 12 October 2016 16.07 BST Last modified on Wednesday 12 October 2016 17.12 BST

Christmas has come early for Denmark’s anglers: up to 80,000 rainbow trout have escaped into the open sea after a cargo ship rammed a fish farm, a local broadcaster has reported, prompting urgent calls for help to catch them.

TV2/FYN said the trout, worth up to DKr 10m (£1.2m), swam off on Tuesday when a freighter heading from Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea to the southern Danish port of Kolding rammed the aquafarm, in the Little Belt strait between Denmark’s mainland and the island of Funen. 

Tim Petersen, the farm owner, told the broadcaster that the trout, which weigh 3kg (6.6lb) each, had been scheduled to be slaughtered this week. “We’ll be seeking compensation,” he said.

But the accident has alarmed environmentalists, who said the farmed trout could not have escaped at a worse time because wild sea trout were swimming up the island’s streams and inlets to spawn.

“Sea trout eggs are a favourite food for rainbow trout,” Søren Knabe, a local angler and member of the Vandpleje Fyn environmental association, told TV2/FYN. “The escaped rainbow trout will follow right behind the tails of the sea trout and eat their eggs.”

Jon Svendsen, a researcher from Denmark’s National Institute of Aquatic Resources, told Reuters the danger that the escaped fish would disturb the wild trouts’ eggs was real, although the farmed fish were unlikely to survive much longer than a few months. 

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Wolves roaming wild in Denmark for first time in 200 years

At least one male wolf has permanently settled in Jutland, Denmark, scientists say, in first case since 1813

By Justin Huggler, Berlin

4:14PM GMT 06 Nov 2014

Wolves have returned to Denmark for the first time in 200 years, according to researchers.

When wolves last roamed wild in Denmark, Napoleon was still terrorising Europe and the Battle of Waterloo had yet to be fought.

But now a team of researchers say they have conclusive evidence that wolves have re-established themselves in much of the Jutland peninsula, the part of Denmark that is in mainland Europe, and that at least one male wolf has permanently settled there.

There have been sporadic sightings of wolves in Jutland since 2012, but this is the first time scientists have officially confirmed their return.

A team of researchers from Aarhus University and the Danish National History Museum studied locations where wolf DNA was found and where wolves were photographed in the wild.

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Charlie Sheen says Danish authorities are complicit in pilot whale ‘slaughter’

Actor had donated boat used by activists who were arrested after trying to save pod of 33 pilot whales in Denmark’s Faroe Islands

theguardian.com, Monday 1 September 2014 03.58 BST

Hollywood star Charlie Sheen has criticised Danish authorities over the arrests of 14 anti-whaling activists in the North Atlantic.

Sheen donated one of three inflatable boats used by Sea Shepherd members to try to save a pod of 33 pilot whales being driven toward hunters on the Faroe island of Sandoy.

Eight activists on the water and six more on land were arrested and detained by Danish officials.

The boats were seized by the Danish navy.

Sheen accused the Danish authorities of being complicit in the “brutal slaughter”.

“I am proud that a vessel bearing my name was there and did all it could to try to stop this atrocity,” the Anger Management star said.

“The 40-foot Zodiac called the BS SHEEN that I donated to Mr [Sea Shepherd leader Paul] Watson’s tireless and heroic efforts, has been shamefully seized. This level of insidious and vicious corruption must be dealt with swiftly and harshly.”

Sea Shepherd claims one of the activists, Spaniard Sergio Toribio, was pulled from a car and assaulted while monitoring the hunt from land, suffering a broken finger.

Read on ...

Denmark: Charles Darwin's barnacles found in museum

22 August 2014 Last updated at 10:20

A collection of barnacles sent by Charles Darwin as a gift to a colleague 160 years ago have been found in Denmark, it's been reported.

Copenhagen's Natural History Museum of Denmark had hoped to find an item Darwin had borrowed from his Danish colleague Japetus Steenstrup, but correspondence between the pair revealed the existence of the unusual present, the Copenhagen Post reports. According to the museum's Hanne Strager, the father of the theory of evolution didn't just return some samples of acorn barnacles borrowed from Steenstrup, but also sent back a box with an additional 77 barnacles to the Dane as appreciation for his help - a fact Strager hadn't noticed until she studied correspondence between the two.

Only 55 of the 77 arthropods sent by Darwin in 1854 have been found, but they're due to be put on display as part of a large exhibition, the museum says. "To display a gift from one of the world's greatest scientists is something unique for a museum," Strager says, "Here we have a personal relationship with exactly the man behind biology, and perhaps the greatest scientific breakthrough: the theory of evolution."

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First wolf family heard in Denmark for 200 years

April 2014: It is suspected by a group of wolf enthusiasts in Denmark that the country probably has its first resident wolf family for over 200 years, reports Rewilding Europe. Ulvetracking Danmark has gone to great lengths to register the sounds of the Danish wolves, recorded in Jutland in January. Holly Root-Gutteridge, an English wolf expert and PhD student at Nottingham Trent University, believes that these howls stem from an entire wolf family. This means that these could be the first wolf pups born in the wild of Denmark for well since the early 19th century.

“This is the biggest fauna sensation we have had for many years,” said Mogens Trolle, zoologist in the Nature Science Museum at the University of Copenhagen.

“There's at least two adults there,” said Root-Gutteridge. “One with a nice deep howl, which is almost a baseline to the chorus, is probably the male and father of the pups, as it's rare to have unrelated males in the same pack. There are possibly three adults, but I need more analysis of the recording to be sure. There are also pups on there. Considering the recording was made in January, they might be wolves that are eight to 10 months of age, with not quite fully developed howls.”

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World’s longest oyster found in Denmark is as big as a size 10 shoe – and still growing

… and no, it isn’t going to get eaten any time soon

ADAM WITHNALL

Monday 24 February 2014

Biologists in Denmark have discovered the world’s largest oyster, measuring in at nearly 14 inches long, and say that the giant mollusc is not done growing yet.

Experts at the Wadden Sea Centre on the country’s southwestern coast said they were taking good care of their new Guinness World Record-holding champion, and that it wouldn’t be ending up on anyone’s plate.

The oyster was found in October, and Klaus Melbye, head of the Wadden centre, was immediately called by his astonished staff.

They first compared the oyster to a European size 44 shoe – around a size nine and a half to 10 in the UK – a standard of measurement which is sadly not accepted by world record officials.

When Guinness did come in December, they measured the oyster at 35.5cm (13.97ins) long – and the record was made official at the start of this year.

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Second Danish zoo giraffe in a week may be euthanised

Giraffes in European zoos do not have the diverse genes of their wild relations

February 2014: The Born Free Foundation has expressed dismay at reports that, following on from the killing on February 9 of a healthy 18-month-old giraffe in Copenhagen Zoo, another male giraffe in Jyllands Park Zoo in Denmark is on ‘death row’. Both giraffes were considered to be unsuitable for breeding because their genes are what is said to be ‘over-represented’ in European zoos.

According to the Foundation, slaughtering healthy zoo animals for convenience is irresponsible and indefensible and it is calling on the European Zoo community to take responsibility for ensuring that no animal is unnecessarily killed. It is also urging European politicians to address euthanasia in zoos, which are legally required to protect the animals in their care. According to the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, zoos kill healthy animals to make way for more desired animals in their collections.

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Testicle-Biting Fish May Be Invading Denmark

Danish skinny-dippers beware: A piranha cousin rumored to go after testicles might be invading brackish waters near Copenhagen.

On Aug. 4, local fisherman Einar Lindgreen was going through his catch after fishing in the Oresund, the strait between Denmark and Sweden. Besides the eels and perch, Lindgreen also netted an exotic fish suspected to be a red-bellied pacu, which is native to the Amazon and has uncannily human-looking teeth.

"It's the first time this species has been caught in the wild in Scandinavia," fish expert Peter Rask Møller of the University of Copenhagen said in a statement. "Discovering whether this fish is a lone wanderer or a new invasive species will be very exciting. And a bit scary."

The toothy South American fish has crept into lakes and rivers far outside its native range, likely after getting loose from aquariums and fish farms. Though its teeth are used mainly to crush nuts and fruits, the pacu eats other fish and invertebrates and there have been some reports of human attacks. In Papua New Guinea, the invasive species has reportedly earned a reputation as the "ball-cutter" after castrating a couple of local fishermen.

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Police officer kidnaps dog to save him from euthanasia

A dog scheduled for euthanasia was kidnapped and saved by a policeman in Denmark. Dog lovers are rallying behind Lars Bo Lomholt, a police officer accused of kidnapping a German Shepherd from a kennel the night before the dog was scheduled to be put down for biting another dog.

At first, police believed the theft was carried out by a man pretending to be a police officer. But now Lars, a 20 year veteran, faces criminal charges and dismissal from the the North Zealand police department.

Thor, a 7-year-old German Shepherd Dog, is owned by a woman named Jette. In September 2012 the dog and his owner Jette were out on a walk when a smaller dog jumped out behind them and scared Thor. Thor, who was on a leash, was startled and bit the dog once.

According to Jette, she and the owner of the smaller dog both apologized to each other over the incident and exchanged information. When the smaller dog was taken to the vet, the incident was reported to the police. Jette received a fine, which she paid, and she then assumed that the incident was resolved.

However, 10 weeks later, three police officers appeared at Jette's home and seized Thor. They said he had been ordered to be put to sleep because Thor had bitten the other dog and his behavior was deemed "unnatural".

Police spokesperson Thomas Kristensen told the Danish paper Elstra Bladet that they examined the facts of the case and that the vet had assessed that there were "several bite wounds and the injured dog received stitches several times".

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http://www.dogheirs.com/tamara/posts/2714-police-officer-kidnaps-dog-to-save-him-from-euthanasia

Undercover operation by conservation group reveals whale meat illegally on sale in Denmark Commercial whaling in Greenland -

December 2012. WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation has revealed evidence from a recent undercover operation in Denmark which clearly shows whale meat from Greenland on sale commercially in Denmark. 

A WDC team found Minke whale steaks and blubber openly available to buy at a tourist shop in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, thus putting Denmark in breach of European Union (EU) laws which ban EU Member States from the killing and commercial sale of whales. Ironically, the revelations by WDC also come in the week when Greenland has threatened to impose its own quotas regarding the number of whales that it will hunt for ‘local nutritional needs' in 2013.

Contravenes International Whaling Commission regulations
The sale of these whale products in Denmark also contravenes International Whaling Commission (IWC - the body that regulates whaling) regulations, and also those of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Earlier in the year, a separate undercover investigation by WDC revealed that Greenland (a Danish overseas territory) had been actively undermining the IWC ban on commercial whaling by selling whale meat to tourist visiting Greenland from whales that are allowed to be killed only for the nutritional needs of local aboriginal people.

This latest undercover operation by WDC in Denmark itself clearly shows that this form of illegal commercial whaling has now extended into mainland Europe and makes a mockery of Greenland's requests to hunt more whales to feed native Greenlanders.

Continued:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/denmark-whales.html

Undercover investigation reveals whales killed for ‘local needs’ in Greenland are being served to tourists

Real reasons behind Denmark's pleas to increase the number of whales it needs to kill for native Greenlandic peoples are exposed 
June 2012. Despite a ban on commercial whaling, an undercover investigation by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) has revealed that Greenland (a Danish overseas territory) has been actively undermining the International Whaling Commission (IWC) ban on commercial whaling by selling whale meat, from whales it is allowed to kill solely for the nutritional needs of local aboriginal people, to tourists visiting the country.

WDCS investigators visiting Greenland documented restaurants and hotels deliberately targeting tourists by placing bowhead and other whale meat on their menus. The investigations also revealed supermarkets openly selling endangered fin whale and other whale meats, all freely available for visitors to the country to buy.

Denmark to request increase in whaling for ‘subsistence'
These revelations come on the eve of the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (the international body that regulates whaling) in Panama in July, where Denmark is set to ask that it be allowed to kill more whales in future years to meet the nutritional subsistence needs of the native population in Greenland. 

‘Purpose of local aboriginal consumption'
However, the IWC requires that subsistence whaling should be for the ‘purposes of local aboriginal consumption', not for the type of commercial sale that the investigation by WDCS has revealed.

Read on:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/greenland-iwc.html#cr

New whaling report calls Danish EU presidency into question

Most Danes are against commercial whaling
May 2012. Prior to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in July 2012, conservation groups have released a report calling for a change in Denmark's policy on whaling which has caused conflict with fellow European Union members in recent years. There are serious questions about how the Danish presidency of the EU can be maintained, given that its whaling policy doesn't mesh with EU law.

Breaking Ranks, a new report, is backed by Pro Wildlife, Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), and Humane Society International (HSI), and documents how, for the past 20 years, Denmark has actively supported countries that practice commercial whaling, repeatedly leading to conflict within the EU because EU law prohibits whale hunting and the commercial use of whale products.

"Despite its presidency position, Denmark is acting as an outsider to the EU and is undermining the efforts of the EU to better protect whales, something urgently needed," said Pro Wildlife's Sandra Altherr, one of the report's two authors. "We call on Denmark to reconsider its whaling policy."

Denmark wants to catch more whales - even endangered species
The new Danish Government, which took office last year, seems to be continuing the course of its predecessors. Just before taking over the EU presidency in January 2012, Denmark again opposed a common pro-conservation EU position on whaling.

Denmark's preparations for the forthcoming IWC in Panama (July 2-6) have been even more diplomatically provocative. Denmark has unilateraly applied for a renewed increase in whaling quotas for Greenland (a Danish overseas territory) without consulting other EU members over such a controversial move.

"This individualistic act causes irritations within the EU," said report co-author Jennifer Lonsdale of EIA. "Especially when holding the EU presidency, a country is expected to conduct itself in a transparent and coordinated way, seeking common ground rather than divisive action."

Altherr added: "We recognise that the IWC grants quotas to those peoples who have a genuine subsistence need; however, Denmark is seeking significantly higher quotas than previously, even for highly endangered Fin whales. It has deliberately avoided any debate with the EU, which is obliged to coordinate its position at international fora including the IWC."

Controversial balancing act
In addition to Greenland, Denmark's other overseas territory, The Faroe Islands, have also been the cause of conflicts as they are not EU members but are represented by Denmark at international meetings such as the IWC. Both territories kill whales; the Faroe Islanders hunt pilot whales that are not subject to IWC quotas and Greenland's whaling is authorised by the IWC under the special category of Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling, which allows non-commercial whaling for local consumption.

Conservation groups now believe that Denmark has to balance its obligations towards its overseas territories with its responsiblities as a member of the EU. However, Denmark goes far beyond its obligations towards these autonomous regions in actively promoting a pro-whaling agenda. For example, it tried late last year to prevent the EU from criticising Japan's ‘scientific' whaling.

Majority of Danes want to save, not slaughter, whales
Polls have shown that a mere five per cent of Danes support commercial whaling, and 75 per cent expect the Government to act against such pro-whaling policies - although the government continues to do the opposite.

"We are calling on the Danish Government to stop supporting commercial whaling and join with other EU members to strengthen effective whale conservation measures," said Laura Döhring of WDCS.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/denmark-eu.html