Norway wolf hunt sparks anger

Sweden says 200 wolves -- twice the current number -- are needed to sustain the species

OSLO, Norway (CNN) -- A wolf hunt has been approved by authorities in Norway despite objections from wildlife campaigners.

Their decision was made after pressure from farmers who are losing flocks of sheep to the pack of wolves.

Approval has only been secured to kill nine wolves in southern Norway, but strong protests have still been lodged by Swedish and international environmental officials.

"This decision is very unfortunate", said World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) spokesman Lennart Nymann. "With it, Norway is eliminating 10 percent of the Scandinavian wolf population".

The Norwegian authorities say the proposed hunt, which could be conducted from helicopters, is a compromise after it first proposed to kill 20 wolves.

Now they have more than halved the amount and limited it to one family group in Østerdalen, a valley on the Norwegian-Swedish border. Oslo has also set aside funds for the hunt, scheduled to start on February 10.

"This is a clear compromise. Our point is that Norway and Sweden have a common wolf population, and we have taken into consideration the Swedish and Norwegian needs", said Terje Bø from the Norwegian environmental agency to NTB news.

Authorities in Stockholm oppose the hunt, saying that at least 200 wolves are needed to sustain the species, and there are currently only about half that number in both Sweden and Norway.

Sweden's minister of the environment on Monday expressed grave concern over Norway's decision.

Norway: Government and Ministries
Swedish Government Offices
World Wildlife Fund

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