A killed Valais wolf roamed the Bern region for years (Swiss Press Text 2011, by Christian Liechti) - Swiss Press Award

Berner Zeitung

Christian Liechti

In mid-August, a wolf was shot on the Valais Alp Secx. The animal killed not only sheep but also cattle in Valais. The wolf caused considerable excitement in the canton. As a result, wolf protection became the dominant topic in the national councils. The journalist learned indirectly that the shot wolf was the one that had roamed the Bernese Oberland for years. The search for clues to establish the wolf's life in the canton of Bern was complex and lasted over a month. After several inquiries, the Federal Office for the Environment granted access to the autopsy report. With additional documents from federal and cantonal agencies, the life of the wolf, just over five years old, was finally reconstructed. The research made it possible to clearly break down the issue from the national level to the regional level.