EU Court ruling confirm flaws in Sweden’s wolf policy

Recent rulings from the Court of Justice of the European Union, together with several scientific statements confirm that Sweden’s current wolf policy is in direct conflict with both EU law and genetics. Still, the Swedish government now moves ahead to change its definition of “Favorable Conservation Status” (FCS), to be able to halve the country’s wolf population, down to 170 individuals.

Downloadable free wolf images for media professionals:

https://swedensbigfive.org/wolf-gallery/

New wolf ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union

A recent ruling about wolves in Estonia, by the Court of Justice of the EU (C-629/23) (1) clarified:

Wolf hunting is only allowed if the wolf population has reached so-called Favorable Conservation Status (FCS), at both national and local levels.
Wolves in Russia cannot be counted toward an EU country’s population goals, due to lack of legal protection and binding cooperation.
Favorable Conservation Status must be based solely on biological criteria, not political or economic considerations.

Is there only space for 170 wolves in Sweden?

Geneticists such as Professor Linda Laikre and others (see links below) mean that a viable wolf population in Sweden would require many more individuals than the government’s now proposed 170 wolves. Professor Laikre suggests a minimum of 2,000 wolves is needed for long-term genetic health of the wolf populations in Sweden, Norway and Finland taken together. This population is today only around 700.

Magnus Orrebrant, Secretary General of the Swedish Carnivore Association, emphasizes that “without following EU legal standards and scientific guidance, Sweden risks further biodiversity loss and continued infringement cases. Sweden has presently defined Favorable Conservation Status as a minimum of 300 wolves, but that was based upon the connectivity with Russian wolves, which has now been ruled out and not allowed. This means that in reality that number of 300 is already today far too low and should be tripled, rather than halved.”

Criticism towards the Swedish government

The Swedish Carnivore Association criticizes the government for knowingly misinterpreting expert reports and therefore calls for:

An immediate stop for the planned lowering of the wolf reference value.
A ban on any wolf hunting at the present low population level.
A new mandate for the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, to develop legally and scientifically sound wolf population targets.
Improving the dialogue with civil society and independent scientists.

Bounty now offered against illegal hunting

A new bounty of 250,000 SEK (22,700 euro) has been offered by the Swedish Carnivore Association, for tips regarding wildlife crimes against Sweden’s large predators.

Illegal hunting is still a big threat to Sweden’s large predators – especially, but not only, the wolf. Poaching strikes a blow to biodiversity as well as public trust in the rule of law. To counter this, the Swedish Carnivore Association has now taken the historic measure to offer a reward of 250,000 SEK to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of poachers for serious wildlife crime or handling of illegally hunted large predators.

“Poaching of our large carnivores is still far too widespread, but very few cases have yet been legally solved. By offering a substantial reward, we want to lower the threshold for people to dare to speak up. This is about standing up for Sweden’s natural heritage, for the law and for our endangered species,”says Magnus Orrebrant, Secretary General of the Swedish Carnivore Association. “This is a powerful and responsible way for civil society to help stop the serious crimes affecting our predators,” says Björn Israelsson, legal counsel at the Swedish Carnivore Association.

Tips can be submitted anonymously by phone at 072-236 78 48 or by email to tips@rovdjur.se

For more information

Magnus Orrebrant, Secretary General, Swedish Carnivore Association
Mail magnus.orrebrant@rovdjur.se, phone +46 (0)705 168 931

Images and videos for complimentary usage

Quality images and videos can be downloaded from the website of Sweden’s Big Five (link below). Free usage rights allowed when published in connection with these issues. The “photographer’s name/Swedensbigfive” is to be published in connection with the used images. Link: https://swedensbigfive.org/images-and-videos/

Useful links

Open letter to the Swedish PM (Swedish)

https://rovdjur.se/oppet-brev-till-statsminister-ulf-kristersson/

Source: Swedish Carnivore Association

Scientists warn about reducing Sweden’s wolf population (Swedish)

https://www.su.se/nyheter/forskare-varnar-i-science-f%C3%B6r-att-minska-svenska-vargstammen-1.620442

Source: Stockholm University

Planned cull endangers Swedish wolf population (English)

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.add5299

Source: Science

Wolves: MEPs agree to change EU protection status (English)

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20250502IPR28221/wolves-meps-agree-to-change-eu-protection-status