Norway's Gausdal wolf slated for culling after sheep deaths

The Norwegian Environment Directorate and the State Nature Inspection have been given authority by the Climate and Environment Ministry to cull a wolf that has damaged sheep and lambs in the Gausdal and Oppdal municipalities. The animal is believed to have killed around 50 livestock, prompting concern for the roughly 10,000 sheep and lambs that graze in the area. A culling permit was issued on Tuesday, with local hunters and dog teams mobilised and additional camera traps deployed to locate the animal. The permit is valid until 28 July and the wolf is described as genetically valuable, having immigrated from Finland or Russia.

The Centre Party (Sp) has criticised the government for the delay, saying the wolf should have been shot earlier and expressing farmers' frustration. Climate and Environment Minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen acknowledged the farmers' distress and explained that earlier attempts to relocate the wolf had failed, leading to the decision to proceed with culling.