Predators Canton Schwyz releases lynx for shooting after sheep kills

The canton of Schwyz has released a lynx for shooting. In August, it had killed nine sheep in the Muota Valley within a few days without eating them.

The lynx appears to have specialized in sheep, the Schwyz State Chancellery announced on Wednesday. Such behavior is not typical for a lynx.

It is not possible to wait until the animal kills more sheep, according to the press release. The cantonal council had therefore ordered the cull.

The permit from the Federal Office for the Environment has been available since Friday, said Manuel Wyss, head of the hunting and wildlife department at the canton of Schwyz, when asked by the Keystone-SDA news agency.

According to Wyss, the lynx is a young male animal. It is equipped with a GPS transmitter that reports its location every six hours. The reason for this is that it was found as an orphan in October 2023. He was nursed back to health at Goldau Nature and Animal Park and released last May.