The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has granted permission to kill eight wolves in Suomussalmi in Kainuu. The decision is an exceptional one, in that it is the first time that permission has been given in Finland to kill an entire pack of wolves.
There are an estimated 20 packs of wolves roaming in Finnish forests.
The animals in question have been killing reindeer in the Halla reindeer herding area. Nearly 400 carcasses of reindeer killed by predators have been found in the area so far this year. The whole reindeer herding area has slightly more than 2,200 reindeer.
The hunting permit was granted to a reindeer herder in Hyrynsalmi. It is in force until the first of December.
According to estimates by the Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, there are at least 200 - 250 wolves in Finland. About 20 of them live in reindeer herding areas.
