– We have problems with scrapie in the wild reindeer. There are also problems with foot rot. So I believe that we must now look again at both the need and the possibility of allowing wolverines to establish themselves on Hardangervidda, says Elvestuen. Ola Elvestuen is a politician in the Liberal Party. Photo: Peder Martin Bergholt / news In October this year, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority reported that scrapie had again been detected in wild reindeer on Hardangervidda. The first case was detected two years ago. Then the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Environment Agency proposed winter hunting, in order to get rid of the scabies disease. The proposal met with major protests from hunters and landowners, who wanted to boycott the hunt as they feared for the future of the red-listed animal. The protests reached their peak when legal action was threatened to prevent such hunting, and on 8 December the government rejected the recommendation. Also previously discussed The proposal to allow wolverines to establish themselves in Norway’s largest national park, in order to take sick reindeer, has also been discussed previously. Elvestuen is happy that the proposal for winter hunting was stopped, but says that it must be seen what can be done over time. – I think we will have a healthier wild reindeer population if, in the coming years, it is allowed on Hardangervidda that predators, such as wolverines, can establish themselves there. On 22 December, Elvestuen submitted a written question to Minister for Climate and Environment Espen Barth Eide. There he asks if the government will look into the possibility that the predatory mammal wolverine can be of help in the fight against scrapie. news has been in contact with press contact in the Ministry of Climate and Environment, Martin Lerberg Fossum, who does not comment on the matter in the press until they have answered Elvestuen’s questions in the Storting. Nature’s way – Predators are fabulous at picking out weak animals that even humans don’t see are weak, says Arnodd Håpnes. Arnodd Håpnes is subject leader in the Nature Conservancy. Photo: Naturvernforbundet He is a specialist in the Nature Conservancy Association and believes that the wolverine is a good species to have to keep scrapie in check. – Then nature’s course and natural ecosystem can be re-established with the help of the wolverine as a top predator, so that we get the most possible natural further development on the Hardangervidda. – Is it humane to release the wolverine on sick animals? – It is nature’s way of life and we cannot prevent that in any way whatsoever, he says. Bad solution The proposal from Elvestuen does not go down well with the Farmers’ Association. – We think it is a bad solution. That’s what Aslak Snarteland, leader of the Telemark Farmers Association, says. They also said that the last time it was proposed two years ago. Aslak Snarteland is the leader of Telemark Bondelag. Photo: Roald Marker / news Snarteland believes that viewed in isolation in relation to scrapie and reindeer, it can certainly be a good measure, but that it comes into major conflict with the grazing animals that roam there. – There are a lot of sheep grazing on Hardangervidda, and it is not compatible with introducing wolverines. We have big enough problems with the stray animals that are there as of today, says the farmer association leader. Håpnes i Naturvernforbundet believes that this is the course of nature, and says it will restore the wolverine population that has been there in the past. – It is clear that there can be a loss of sheep to wolves. If you run open field grazing, you have to count on natural losses to predators. He claims it will be a small cost in terms of restoring a stable and intact ecosystem. – It will also handle scrapie in a natural and much better way than what we do today. Snarteland believes it will also cause major problems for sheep farmers. As he sees it, introducing wolverines will further strengthen the situation for grazing. If they cannot have sheep grazing there, the farmers themselves must harvest the fodder that is on the Hardangervidda.
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