Data reveals there are 150 to 180 animals in Finland, where
government awards licences to hunt them
Fiona
Harvey Environment correspondent
Monday 26 June 2017 07.00 BST Last modified on Monday 26
June 2017 07.01 BST
Conservation
groups have raised concerns over Finland’s wild wolf population after a new
census found numbers far below those regarded as naturally sustainable.
Data
from the Finnish National Resources Institute show there are currently only
about 150 to 180 wolves living in Finland, where the government awards licences
to hunt the animals.
The estimate is much lower than previous estimates, which put
the population at more than 230 animals more than a year ago.
It also falls a long way short of the estimated 800
individuals needed to sustain a healthy degree of genetic diversity within the
population, according to the Wolf Action Group, a
conservation committee within the Finnish Nature League.
This week, the campaigners will meet EU officials to discuss
the census data, and the application of Europe’s Habitat Directive to the
remaining wolves in Finland.
Under the EU rules, wolves – which are classed as endangered – should be
accorded special status with measures taken to ensure their viability, but
conservationists say these rules have not been followed.
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