Court of Appeal rejects licensed wolf hunting in Västmanland

In June last year, the government decided that the Swedish minimum population level for wolves should be lowered from 300 to 170 animals, a decision that has been criticized by the European Commission, which considers it unscientific and says it risks the species' viability in the long term.

The decision on licensed hunting was made in November, and according to it, 48 animals were to be shot in five counties. However, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, among others, appealed the county administrative boards' decision and the hunt, which was to have started on January 2 of this year, was stopped by the administrative court.

Judgments are expected for four more counties - Örebro, Dalarna, Västra Götaland and Södermanland.

Corrected: In a previous version, an incorrect figure was given for the number of wolves.