Valais: 341 animals killed by 61 wolves in 2024

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Wildlife61 Wolves in Valais killed 341 cattle heads in 2024
The predators were responsible for 112 pension animal attacks last year and 35 wolves were slaughtered.
The reactive (June to August) and proactive (September to January to January) regulation of the wolf will continue in 2025 in order to allow the lasting coexistence of the human being and the wolf, known as the canton.
Canton of ValaisIn 2024, 61 wolves were formally identified in the canton of Valais, including 36 new individuals. There were 71 in 2023. The 61 are made up of 28 females, 31 males and two indeterminate individuals. Eleven packs, including two cross -border and nine with reproduction are confirmed by the hunting, fishing and fauna service (SCPF).
A total of 341 animals of rent was killed throughout the cantonal territory during 112 attacks, including 265 in Haut-Valais (for 79 attacks) and 76 in Romand Valais (for 33 attacks).
The head of the Department of Security, Institutions and Sport (DSIS), Frédéric Favre, ordered two individual shots, leading to the levy of an individual by the professional guards.
As part of proactive regulation, 34 additional wolves were taken. The objective was to minimize conflicts in the problematic areas where wolves bypassing the protection of herds of rent animals, represent a danger to humans and/or jeopardize the regional populations of wild ungula.
Thus, the SCPF asked the Federal Office of the Environment (OFEV) the authorization to carry out a complete direct debit of five packs. The FOV has agreed for these five packs, namely those of Nanz, Augstbord, Hérens-Mandelon, Les Toules and Nendz-Isrables. All individuals located on the five fire perimeters authorized by the OFEV could be taken during the proactive regulation period. Thus, from September 1, 2024 to January 31, 2025, 34 wolves were taken from these five authorized territories (9 in the territory of the pack of Nanz; 8 in the territory of the Meute of Augstbord; 3 in the Milling territory of Hérens-Mandelon;
27 faune guards, 7 hunter shots
A total of 27 shots was produced by the professional guards, accompanied by a hunting support group (GSC), made up of specialized hunters under the responsibility of the SCPF. Authorized hunters have made seven shots as part of their ordinary hunting activities. The latter, as well as the GSC members, had been trained specifically in August 2024.
According to the new OCHP entered into force on February 1, 2025, the canton of Valais will continue the reactive (June to August) and proactive (September to January) regulation in order to allow the lasting coexistence of the human being and the wolf, As well as reducing conflicts between mountain agriculture, game and large predator.
The amount of compensation for pension animals killed following a large predator attack amounts to around 227,000 francs for 2024 (210,000 francs in 2023). In 2024, more than 16,400 hours of work were devoted to the management of the wolf and its regulation (14,500 hours in 2023).