Wolf cull surprisingly efficient in Swiss canton
The Swiss canton of Valais has already reached half of its wolf hunting target, shooting 17 of the animals in 18 days since active wolf hunting opened on December 1. The Department of Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife was "satisfied" with this result, it announced on Monday at the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency. + How many wolves are good for Switzerland? In November, the State Council declared that the operation would be a "great success" if the canton managed to get "between ten and 15" in the next two months. With 17 animals killed, the canton has now shot half of the wolves it was targeting in just under three weeks. According to the canton's count on Monday, seven wolves were killed from the Augstbord pack and another seven from the Eringer pack. Two wolves came from the Nanz pack and one from the Toules pack. Fourteen animals were shot by professional gamekeepers, three by hunters who had a special permit. The surprise effect "certainly played a role in this result,...