Last November somebody found a dead wolf in a little village, called Reckingen, in the midst of the Alps. The animal was shot dead by a human being. Scientist found out that this specimen came from Italy. Only a few days later, a beast of prey came to the outskirts of Brig, a small city in a valley of the Alps, and kill some sheep. If it was a wolf is not totally clear and it will be examined. But one thing is clear: In the nearness of the border of Switzerland there live wolves. Not surprising if you now that in 50 kilometres distance they live in a National Park. The wolves won't stop at the border; the living space Alps appeal to them, because it was their former home.
Since the eighties Italian wolves spread out to the south-west-Alps. In dependent to this development wolves have been seen and watched since 1992 in the French Alps near the sea. Now there are more than 20 animals in 4 packs in France.
"What do we have to expect if the wolf becomes native in Switzerland again?" That's one of the most frequently asked questions. Experience in Italy and Spain shows that wolf and man are able to live together, if there the requirements are met. And that's quite different to the fairy tales. But it is important to have a matter-of-fact company with problems and fears which appear in connection with the wolf.
The wolf is a beast of prey which feeds naturally on hoofed animals man is not a hoofed animal as you know, thus he is not a prey of the wolf. Since the last century it is not known that a wolf attacked a human being in Europe. Wolves live sometimes near suburbs, but they are very shy.
In Switzerland deer, chamois, and wild boar count as the most important preys of the wolf. But they are not cogent a concurrence against our hunters. Because big beasts of prey are good for the ecology.
The biggest problem will be the sheep. But look at our  interview  with A. Büchler.
 

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source:
Newspaper: NZZ 1999 (Switzerland)