A two-year-old female wolf, believed to have clawed reindeers in the province of Jämtland, was yesterday evening relocated to the province of Närke, 150 kilometres west of Stockholm.
It seems like the wolf has immigrated from Russia or Finland, and therefore it is likely to be a very valuable addition to the very inbred Swedish wolf population.
The successful relocation could be followed up with another one. There is a second wolf in the same area in Jämtland, also believed to be a genetically valuable individual.
The relocation came very timely for the Swedish government, who soon is to face the EU Commission and report on how the government is making sure that wolfs have a future in the country.
The EU Commission has been very critical toparts of the Swedish wolfpolicy, particularly that Sweden has allowed licensed hunting of the species. The government can now argue that it is working actively to strengthen the genetic status of Swedish wolfs.
According to a decision taken in the Swedish Parliament, a maximum of 20 wolves with fresh new genes is to be added to the Swedish wolf population. The wolf relocated from Jämtland to Närke is included in the quota.
Press images and press release.