Many different authorities, organisations and ordinary citizens interested in large carnivores participate in the conservation and management of predator populations. Well defined and planned hunting of large carnivores forms a part of successful population management and conservation efforts.
The basic idea behind animal transplantation is to restore a viable population to an area where the species has previously disappeared from in a manner that does not limit or prevent the free movement of animals.
Transplanted wolverine. Photo: Metsähallitus
The method's feasibility is reduced by the lack of suitable wilderness habitats and the tendency of the transplanted animals to migrate back to their original territories. Local residents are also often against having large carnivores transplanted into their environment. Recent studies have shown that young wolves spread very effectively, which makes it possible that the species may spread to the entire country even without transplantations.
National Resources Institute Finland (Luke) has transplanted around 20 wolverines and half a dozen lynxes and bears in Finland between 1984−1998. No wolves have been transplanted. The transplanted wolverines were taken from the reindeer herding area and placed mainly in central and western Finland. The now established wolverine population of Ostrobothnia and northern Central Finland is largely the result of transplantation. Bears and lynxes have been transplanted to Northern Häme, which also resulted in established populations.
Natural Resources Institute Finland's (Luke) estimates on the numbers of animals are primarily based on sighting data collected by a volunteer organisation consisting of the contact persons of regional game management associations. Other utilised methods include on-the-ground censuses made by hunter...
The conservation status of large carnivores is evaluated according to the implementation report of the Habitats Directive.
Large carnivores elicit strong reactions from people. On the one hand they are feared and hated, and on the other there is a desire to protect them and they are viewed as symbols of the wilderness. In reality, most people know fairly little of our large carnivores.
The views held by Finns are sometimes conflicting when it comes to the population management and conservation of large carnivores. In order to piece together these different views, national management plans are created.
For the first time, Metsähallitus wilderness supervision has monitored the results of its work in real time throughout the year. The new system reveals that 368 people violated the law while in nature, and 169 people were caught without necessary permits.