Switzerland: Statement of the Federal Council on the interpellation for the shooting of parent wolves

On 20 November 2024, the Federal Council responded to the interpellation of National Councillor Jacques Nicolet (Groupe de l'Union démocratique du Centre "SVP"), in which he asked, among other things, why the Canton of Vaud was not allowed to shoot the wolf pack on Mont Tendre without taking into account the protection of young animals (i.e. disregarding the specified order: young animals before parent animals).

The Federal Council replied that the cantons had to ensure compliance with animal protection law (Art. 4 para. 2 TSchG and Art. 7 para. 4 JSG). The order of priority of shooting young animals before their parents is derived from these animal protection regulations. This is because young wolves cannot survive without their parents until they are seven months old. For animal protection reasons, no parentless young animals should be left behind.