Environmentalists protest lynx killing (Norway)

Aftenposten ^ | February 9, 2005 | Ole Mathesmoen

[franksolich]

Environmentalists protest lynx killing

With recent international outcry about culling Norway's tiny wolf population still ringing, more controversy is certain to erupt after hunters began thinning the country's dwindling lynx population.

At least 26 lynx have been shot in the first eight days since hunting began on Feb. 1. Norway's parliament has approved a measure to increase the lynx population by 50 percent.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Norway has not only criticized the number of lynx allowed taken in this year's hunt but also the way the shooting has been organized. WWF Norway reports that three lynx were shot in Trysil/Engerdal in Hedmark County despite a regional quota of one.

Authorities are investigating a WWF claim that an animal shot illegally in Akershus County was moved to Østfold County, where the quota was not full.

Researchers estimate that the lynx population in Norway before the hunt was about 250, lower than it had been for many years. Parliament has ruled that the annual number of lynx young should increase from 45 to 65 and the DN (Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management) estimated a population of 400 animals would be needed to reach this goal.

Despite these decisions a hunt quota of 51 animals has been allowed.

WWF Norway secretary general Rasmus Hansson said that the Ministry of Environment needed to reduce the quota if Minister Knut Arild Hareide was to avoid going down as the greatest predator killer in modern time in that office.

DN consultant Morten Kjørstad defended the hunt."The important thing is not to shoot too many females. Not all of the quota will be taken and in addition to the main quota most counties set up a female quota. When this is met the hunt stops no matter what," Kjørstad said.

Lynx hunting has been growing in recent years and the population is down 35 percent from the record years 1996/98. In 1998 117 lynx were shot in Norway and 91 killed the next year, bringing about the situation where parliament felt the numbers had to be built up again.

[franksolich]

Man, Norway, the Nebraska of Europe, and our allies in the War Against Terror, is getting it from all sides and all organizations in Old Europe.

It does not appear to be based upon honest environmental concerns, though; one gets the impression Old Europe and these international organizations are critical of Norway because.....Norwegians have thus far two times voted to stay outside of the European "Union," and of course they are our allies in the current war, with both a financial and military presence in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Norwegians would just as soon be Norwegians, one supposes, rather than some sort of generic "European" as molded by Paris, Brussels, and Berlin.

One is also heartened to learn that Chile, the country with a solvent social-security system, has joined Norway in resisting the contemptibly-high tariffs imposed by the European "Union" on Norway fish.

There appears to be a lot of animal stories emanating out of Norway, and I have mixed feelings about this, along with the controversies about wolves, reindeer, and bison in Norway. Sure, some animals can be a nuisance, but on the other hand, one does not wish to drive them into utter extinction.

[franksolich]

"Ping" for the Norway ping list.

I recently wrote a letter to the editor of the Aftenposten, surely the finest newspaper in all of Europe, and if it shows up on their web-site, I will inform.

[rahbert]

why would anyone want to shoot a lynx?

[kingsurfer]

PING

[franksolich]

I have no idea, but because agricultural animal "fatalities" seem rather high in Norway, perhaps they are predators.

[monday]

"Parliament has ruled that the annual number of lynx young should increase from 45 to 65"

lol..... I get the feeling that the Norwegian Parliament has run out of important things to do. Pretty pathetic that they are reduced to demanding that Lynx's have 20 more babies a year.

How are they going to enforce this "law"? Throw lynxes caught using birth control in jail?

[Purrcival]

[ Østfold County, ]

How do you pronounce that "O" with the "/" across it?

[Purrcival]

[ Østfold County, ]

How do you pronounce that "O" with the "/" across it?

[franksolich]

You're asking exactly the wrong person here, Madam, but perhaps someone else can enlighten both of us.

I always wondered about the vowels with the two dots overhead of them, too.

[norge]

"uhstvold"

[norge]

Hey Coachie, try this:

går på ski = gohr poh shee = go cross country skiing

skøl, Norge

[Purrcival]

Thanks!