Dear European Commission,  

Following the Commission’s invitation to submit data on wolves, I want to underline facts that clearly show that the growing populations of wolves in Europe and Sweden is a predominantly very positive development. As an apex predator, wolves are important for the functioning of ecosystems and worth a continued strong protection. 

Please let the strict protection of wolves remain. There are several good reasons for that, as listed below.

The Scandinavian wolf population is small, isolated and fragile. In the winter of 2022-2023, the Swedish wolf population was estimated to 450 wolves, according to an official monitoring report:https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3068933

Due to decisions on hunting allowances from Swedish authorities, illegal hunting, accidents and natural mortality, the Swedish wolf population was estimated to have drastically decreased to 368 wolfs in the autumn of 2023, by Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences: https://www.slu.se/globalassets/ew/org/centrb/vsc/vsc-dokument/vsc-publikationer/andren-et-al-2023-berakningar-av-jaktuttag-varg-2024.pdf 

Contrary to the Swedish Government’s official standpoint, the Swedish wolf population has not reached Favourable Conservation Status. Due to flawed management, small numbers and isolation, the Swedish wolf population still suffers from severe genetic problems. The inbreeding coefficient (0.24) shows that Swedish wolves in average are as closely related to each other as descendants from siblings (0.25): https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3068933. In April 2020, the Swedish wolf was classed as Endangered in the National Red List: https://www.artdatabanken.se/det-har-gor-vi/rodlistning/dagens-rodlistade-art/varg/ 

A vast majority of Sweden’s citizens are in favor of wolves in Sweden (69 percent) and few are in opposition (12 per cent). https://pub.epsilon.slu.se/25129/1/dressel_s_et_al_210827.pdf 

To conclude, I strongly urge the Commission to take action to protect Europe’s valuable wolves, and not weaken the necessary protection. 

Best regards,

Marie Elisabet Sandström
Grillby