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Student essays

Carnivora canidae canis lupus

Abstract

Once upon a time there were wolves all over Sweden. Today the population lies around 80 - 110 individuals. To be able to become a vigorous population, it has to increase to at least 200 individuals. The current Swedish wolf population is the result of intensive persecution done by mankind. Our attitude towards the wolf is an important factor on the issue of wolves “to be or not to be”. (Ebenhard & Höggren,1999)

During the last 20 years the constant debate concerning the wolves existence has been easy to follow in the light of media. The wolf resistance in Sweden has a long history. For a long time the authority even encouraged the persecution, and first 1966 the wolves became a protected species. Opponents to having wolves are mainly people living in the big forest-districts, and among the Laplander people (living of reindeer breeding) in the north. Though nowadays, the view concerning biological diversity and ecological thinking has changed, along with the opinion of many people. (Brundin & Kjellström,1998)

The wolf population of today is small and very sensitive. The growth so far has been good, but now the major threats are gene factors, in addition to human activity. (Ebenhard & Höggren,1999)

Introduction

With this essay I would like to look at how the present situation is for the Swedish wolf population, and what possibilities it has for continued growth. I would also like to check out the attitudes among Swedes concerning wolves. Both how it was in the past, and what we are willing to do now to get a strong and healthy population.

In old stories and folklore the wolf is pictured as a creature of evil. Why has it been pictured that way? Have people always thought that way of wolves? And has it really changed?

The reason to why I chose this angle of investigating the subject. is that I believe people’s opinion is one of the biggest threats to how our world is explored and developed. I also think that before judging an animal, it is our duty to first learn about the animal of interest.

The background of the wolf in Sweden

Once, the wolf lived in the majority of the northern hemisphere. It was found all over Europe and in great parts of Asia and Northern America. (Brundin & Kjellström,1998) Today the estimate is about 150 000 individuals totally, around the world. (Ebenhard & Höggren,1999

The wolf has lived in Sweden for several thousand years, spread all over the country. In the end of 17th century and the beginning of 18th century the Swedish wolf population was the biggest ever. The reason why it at this time was especially large is believed to be an effect of the law that was set 1789. It was a law that gave pheasants permission to hunt on their own land, at certain periods of the year. This had the result that e.g. deer hunting increased, and less time was spent on hunting wolves. But the increased hunting of deer and other wild animals, resulted in less natural prey for the wolves to catch. This made the wolves more interested in farm animals. The wolf became a problem and the persecution started. (Brundin & Kjellström,1998)

A couple of decades later it was extinct from the south of Sweden, and also nearly gone in the northern forests. (Karlsson et al.,1999) First in 1966, the wolves became protected. At that time there was estimated to be around ten wolves remaining, in the whole country.(Ahlén &Tjernberg,1996)

The heavily increased hunt of wolves, and the lack of food for them, is believed to be the most important reasons of the populations decrease. Other factors which can also have had effect on the situation, is for example epidemics and a land- management reform done by the government, which led to an expansion of the arable land on the expense of the forests. (Brundin & Kjellström,1998)

In 1978 the Swedish wolves rejuvenated for the first time since they got protected in 1966. In spite of this, tracings in 1980 showed that only one single wolf remained. This suggested that there had been conducted illegal hunting. At the same time as this fact was confirmed, reports indicated that there could be a few individuals on the boarder between Norway and Sweden (in the district of Värmland), and this it turned out to be true. Since then, the wolves in Sweden have successfully rejuvenated several times, and in the 90´s the population had a steady increase. (Karlsson et al.,1999)

How does the population look today?

The wolves as a specialized predatory species, can be traced back 60 million years. Today the closest living relatives are the dog, the dingo, the coyote and the jackal. (Lopez,1981) The Swedish population lies between 80 to 110 individuals. They live mainly in the forest districts Värmland, Dalarna and Härjedalen.

Today, the wolf as a specie is not threatened by extinction in a global perspective. On the other hand many of the populations are small and very sensitive, among them are the Swedish. The future of these populations depends very much on immigrating wolves from east. There is a big possibility that today’s population consists of closely related individuals, which might lead to inbreeding. A inbreeding depression could lead to a decrease in the population, and probably eventually extinction. But studies of marked wolves in North America, has shown that they can emigrate as far as 900 km. This means that we can hope for new individuals with “fresh genes”, immigration from the east. (Ebenhard & Höggren,1999)

Demographic problems (reproduction and mortality) can also have a major impact on a small population. (Ebenhard & Höggren,1999) Then sufficient food sources will not ensure the population growth. In the case of wolves, all the females do not breed, even if they are physiologically capable to. Only the Alfa female in each pack has cubs. When the food is plenty, most of the juvenile wolves leave the pack to start their own. This way the number of individuals in a pack remains low. If food is scarce, the chances of finding a new territory to ensure their survival is so low, that they rather stay with the pack. (Lopez,1981)

Usually, one litter of 5- 6 cubs are born per year. When food is hard to find, the number of cubs decreases. When fewer cubs are born, and fewer females reproduce, the growth rapidly declines. The mortality among wolves is greatest for the cubs. Young, wandering animals has also a high mortality rate, while the adults has the lowest. (Ebenhard & Höggren,1999

Today, the growth in the Swedish wolf population is very good. If it isn’t struck by genetic problems, it should be able to increase to 200- 500 individuals. But the real figure for an optimal population is not yet determined. As the present number is the result of the massive pursuit done by man, our cognition towards the wolf will play an important role in their preservation. (Ebenhard & Höggren,1999

Attitudes in the past and the present

Historically, the one of the most important reasons for hunting wolves were that they killed livestock, and by this took away the humans food and profit. Especially during harsh winters, the wolves drew closer to farms and people. For small- scale farmers with few animals, even the loss of just a few animals could mean starvation. To maintain animal diversity was not something people of that age was concerned with. Somewhere in this history, the hatred against wolves also arose, kindled by fear and religious reasons, as people thought the wolf was evil, or even the devil in disguise. In folklore and old stories, the wolf is a mysterious and dangerous creature. Fantastic tales of were wolves and supernatural things were told amongst the superstitious people of old times. Killing wolves was good moral. With the development of the civilisation and more logical knowledge, these reasons for killing wolves have vanished, but it took a long time. (Lopez,1981)

Today, most Swedes are positive to the increase in the wolf population. More than two thirds can accept a population twice as big as the current, and 40% would like to see a population of at least 500 individuals. Most people does not mind to have wolves in forests around their home, and people actually living in wolf districts were as positive about wolves as people in any other part of Sweden. Reasons to why people did not want wolves in their close neighbourhood where anxiety for own, family and pets security when being outside. (Karlsson et al.,1999)

Which attitude one has, seems to differ depending on which group in society you are from. Low-educated, low-income, older people and women are in greater extent more negative to wolves, than high educated, high-income, young people and men. People with poor knowledge of wolves seems to have more fear and negative attitude towards the wolf, than people with good knowledge. (Karlsson et al.,1999)

All political parties in Sweden are officially positive to a persistent wolf population. The government has also signed the so-called Bern convention, which implies the duty to protect and care for plants and animal species in their natural environment. The wolf belongs to one of the species protected by the convention. (Brundin & Kjellström,1998)

Discussion

The Swedish wolf population is slowly growing stronger. Though today it is still relatively small and thereby sensitive to external influences. The growth, which is good today, depends on reproduction, mortality, expansion, genetic variance and attitudes and actions of humans.

I believe, considering the good prospect of the Swedish wolf, there are only people who can keep the population from continued growth and expansion. According to research about Swedes attitudes to the wolf, the general opinion is positive even concerning a continued growth. Attitudes today are not at all the same as they were in the past. In old times ignorance and superstition pictured the wolf as something evil. Today we have much more knowledge, which helps us understand the wolf’s behaviour… and needs.

I am glad that the wolf is returning to the Swedish forests.

References

1. Ahlén,I. & Tjernberg,M. 1996. Rödlistade ryggradsdjur i Sverige- Artfakta
2. Brundin, E. & Kjellström,R. 1998. Vargen- i myt och verklighet. Stockholm
3. Ebenhard,T. & Höggren,M. 1999. Livskraftiga rovdjursstammar. Uppsala
4. Karlsson,J. et al. 1999. Svenskars inställning till varg- En intervju undersökning.
5. Lopez,B. 1981. Vargen och människan
   

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