At the hands of environmentalists and animal lovers there is a great ecological and anthropological experiment going on in Sweden. From having been almost entirely extinct the government has for some years now actively transplanted large numbers of wolves into Sweden.
All concerns expressed by the public that wolves can pose a danger to humans are fervently denied with two exceptional statements.
1. Wolves are not dangerous to humans and
2. Wolves only kill what they eat.
Both statements are false. Healthy wolves are known to participate in "sport killing" and healthy wolves are known to attack humans.
Now several media in Sweden reports that a wolf has been seen roaming around on the streets of Gothenburg at night, Sweden's second largets city. The wolf was filmed by an individual on his way home late at night. Nelly Grönberg, a conservation officer for that region, informs the public that Sweden (she actually says "we" meaning Sweden) has not had any wolf incidents for the last 150 years and that's why nobody needs to be worried. Then she goes on to state the following remarkable declaration: "There exists of course nothing that indicates that wolves are dangerous to humans,"(in Swedish "Det finns ju ingenting som tyder på att vargar är farliga för människor", the Swedish word "ju" is used to emphasize and to preempt any hypothetical opposing view).
Well, that's great, except for one little thing - there hasn't been almost any wolves in Sweden during that time in populated areas. I remember when I went to middle school, we were taught that there were two known wolves in Sweden in the farthest northern region. Besides, if there's been wolf incidents in Sweden or not, as claimed by Nelly Grönberg, when there were no wolves in Sweden, seems to be of little real consequence. What's the focus on Sweden about anyway? Are Swedish wolves different from other wolves around the world? Many of the wolves transplanted into Sweden have been taken from Russia. Russian wolves are known to kill hundreds of people ever year! Here's an article from 1911, and here "pacifist" wolves are attacking shoppers in Russia in a parking lot for crying out loud. Considering the circumstances, if I were to choose between Nelly Grönberg or Will N. Graves, I'd stick with Mr. Graves any day, or as Jim Rearden, Ph.D. and former Head of the Wildlife Department at the University of Fairbanks, and author of "The Wolves of Alaska puts it: "This amazing book (Wolves in Russia) presents for the first time, in detail, the facts on Russia's huge wolf problem."
So how is it in other places where there have been wolves during the last 150 years? Here are some pointers that a 5 minute internet research brings up.
1987, Vancouver Island, a 16 year old girl killed by wolf.
1996, British Columbia, 11 year old boy viciously attacked by healthy wolf that bit of most of his face.
2005, Canada, 22 year old man killed by a healthy wolf.
2006, Canada, 14 year old girl and others attacked by wolf.
2012, China, police shoots wolf dead after attacks against humans.
Wolf romantics often claim that healthy wolves are harmless. I have yet to see though, how exactly it will be made sure that only healthy wolves are allowed to roam the streets and communities of Sweden?
The wolf-huggers in Sweden not only propagate incorrect information about wolves, but they also expose the public to danger. Meanwhile no one is discussing what the sudden influx of large packs of wolves do to the indigenous people of Scandinavia. The Sami population's traditional lifestyle involves the herding of reindeers across vast stretches of wilderness in the far north. As indigenous people the Sami has by international law a right to be able to continue living according to their traditions without being discriminated by the government. No official in Sweden would ever dream of introducing legislation or policies that are openly aversive of the Sami way of life. Its a totally different ballgame though when its possible to publicly discredit the Sami and other interest groups as "anti-environmentalists."
I am concerned for the Sami situation. Obviously the roaming of "pacifist" wolf packs poses a problem since they not only kill the reindeer for food but also to pass time, as they are known to participate in "sport killing". The Sami way of life, to have their herds walk freely across the wilderness is doomed by the wolves. It is probably only a matter of time before the last Sami that herds reindeer calls it a day, packs it up and moves to the city - together with the wolves.
