Swiss canton cleared to shoot four wolf packs

The Swiss canton of Valais has been cleared to cull four of its 11 resident wolf packs following a change of mind by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Initially, the FOEN had decided that the canton of Valais could only shoot one of the four wolf packs - the Nanz pack. But officials have now approved a supplementary application from the canton to shoot more wolves, including the Hérens-Mandelon pack. + How many wolves are good for Switzerland? After receiving the FOEN's approval, State Councillor Frédéric Favre, head of the Department of Security, Institutions and Sport, ordered the removal of this pack as well, the canton of Valais announced on Wednesday. The wolf population in Valais is estimated at 90 to 120 individuals. In the current hunting season, five wolves have been killed in Valais so far, two of them by gamekeepers and three by hunters. The regulation permit is valid until January 31, 2025.