The Oslo District Court has granted Noah, WWF World’s Nature Fund and Foreningen Våre Rovdyr a so-called temporary injunction. This means that the planned license hunt for wolves – in the wolf zone – cannot start as planned. – We have asked that the hunt be stopped because we believe that we risk shooting critically endangered wolves in the zone where they should have extra protection and priority, and that on a completely illegal basis, says Siri Martinsen, manager at Noah. SATISFIED: Siri Martinsen, manager of Noah, is very satisfied with the district court’s decision. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen She is well satisfied with the ruling. She believes the authorities have used the wrong application of the law as a basis. At the same time, the Government stated that they disagree with the district court and are asking for an urgent court meeting with the parties. – Bad that it has to be like this Not everyone is equally happy with the decision to temporarily stop the hunt. Leader of the Norwegian Hunting and Fishing Association (NJFF), Knut Arne Gjems, says that they take note of the district court’s decision, but that it creates challenges. The forest car roads have been plowed and the hunters have spent many hours working on tracking and preparations. It is not the first time the wolf hunt has been temporarily stopped. Last year too, there were several rounds of court before the hunt started. – That year after year it should be so unpredictable for wolf management is challenging. And that it is now being stopped at the twelfth hour once again, I think is too bad, says Gjems. He says that many of the hunters have now used Christmas Eve for hunting preparations, and have set aside days off from work to join the hunt. LEADER: Knut Arne Gjems is the leader of the Norwegian Hunting and Fishing Association. He thinks wolf management is becoming unpredictable. Photo: Frode Meskau / news Gjems hopes that there will eventually be a different solution to wolf management and believes that it is not right as it is now. Earlier this year, the Borgarting Court of Appeal concluded that a similar decision was invalid. This case will come up in the Supreme Court in the spring of 2023. – Then we can believe that the Supreme Court will make a good decision, says Gjems. Requests an urgent court hearing It was on 20 December that it became known that the government upholds the predatory game commission’s decision to kill the wolves in the three border areas of Ulvåa, Juvberget and Kockohonka. It was then opened for the felling of a total of 21 wolves. The organizations went to court to have the wolf hunt stopped, and have now won in the Oslo district court. The government now wants an early court meeting with the parties. – I take note of the district court’s decision on the temporary suspension of the licensing of wolves within the wolf zone. The ministry believes that the decision to revoke licenses within the wolf zone is legal, says Climate and Environment Minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap) in a press release from the Government. LEGAL: Climate and Environment Minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap) believes the decision to kill wolves was legal. The parties will now meet for new rounds in the new year. Photo: Truls Alnes Antonsen / news – The state will ask that the district court hold oral proceedings quickly so that we get a ruling as quickly as possible, says Eide. The Ministry of Climate and the Environment states via NTB that they hope that the oral negotiations will lead to the court still giving the government their favor, and that the temporary decision will thus be changed before the end of the felling period. Historic collaboration with Sweden This would be the first time in modern times that Norwegian and Swedish hunters would collaborate on wolf hunting at the same time. As of today, there is a green light for wolf hunting in Sweden, but that may change there as well. In Sweden, the hunt was appealed and initially stopped by the court, but the decision was overturned just before Christmas in the next court. Now the Administrative Court must find out whether the hunting permit meets the conditions. COOPERATION: Knut Arne Gjems, leader of the Norwegian Hunting and Fishing Association and Anders Olsson, leader of the Hunters’ Association in Värmland have prepared and collaborated on a joint wolf hunt. Photo: Frode Meskau / news Anders Olsson, leader of the Hunters’ Association in Värmland, says that it is important that Norway and Sweden have a joint management of the wolf packs that live in the border areas. He thinks it is regrettable that hunting has stopped in Norway. – It’s the same circus all over again. The authorities allow hunting, while the court stops it. It is difficult to achieve a functioning administration in this way. He still hopes that the hunt goes as planned in Sweden. – But there is uncertainty about that, but we plan and assume that we will be allowed to hunt as the authorities have decided, says Olsson.
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Wolf culling is temporarily halted. WWF, Noah and the Association Våre Rovdyr were successful in court – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
