Wolf hunting in Norway remains a controversial issue.

Wolf hunting in Norway remains a controversial issue. Image by Tom Bech / CC BY 2.0

In a historic ruling, five men have been convicted and given prison sentences for organising an illegal wolf hunt in Norway. The case – the first prosecution for organising such a hunt in the country – was held in South Østerdal District Court in eastern Norway and the hunt’s ‘ringleader’ was handed a 20 month jail term, with the others being given sentences of between six and 12 months. Though farmers maintain the wolf population must be controlled to protect their livestock, the hunting of wolves in Norway remains controversial issue, and experts estimate that around half of the wolves killed each year are hunted illegally. Read more: thelocal.no