A conflict has emerged between Norway and Sweden over the conservation of the endangered mountain goose. While Sweden invests millions in preservation efforts, Norway has taken a more passive approach, even shooting geese that cross the border. This has sparked criticism and raised concerns about international conservation agreements.
The Hidden Conflict Over Geese Between Norway and Sweden
The Hidden Conflict Over Geese Between Norway and Sweden
Sweden spends millions of kronor each year trying to save the mountain goose. Yet, Norwegians shoot the geese that fly across the border. "They say they are fake birds," says Sarah Nordlinder from the Swedish Hunters' Association.
A conflict is ongoing between Norway and Sweden regarding the mountain goose, something that SVT has also reported on. The species has been endangered for several decades, and the countries have different views on how it should be preserved.
In Sweden, a conservation project—costing millions of kronor and coordinated by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency—has been ongoing since the late 1970s. Previously, mountain geese were imported from Russia, bred, and released into the wild.
"The number of individuals has increased since 2014, but it is still a very fragile population," says Sarah Nordlinder, project leader and representative of the Hunters' Association.
Criticism: Norway Shoots
In Norway, however, there is a different perspective. Instead of intervening and correcting, a more passive stance is advocated, where nature is primarily monitored.
In some cases, however, action seems to be taken.
Between 2012 and 2015, three Swedish geese that had crossed the border were shot, according to the Swedish Hunters' Association.
Now there is also a decision to shoot another Swedish mountain goose.
"They think Swedish birds are 'fake' because they have been released to strengthen the wild population. But there is a study showing that the Norwegian and Russian geese cannot be genetically distinguished," says Sarah Nordlinder.
Fear: Changing Migration Patterns
Norwegian authorities do not want the Swedish birds to mix with the Norwegian population for fear that their migration patterns will change.
According to Sarah Nordlinder, the Norwegian actions violate international regulations.
"We do not understand why they see the Swedish mountain goose as a threat, as it migrates together with the Norwegian group. Killing a bird from a critically endangered species without scientific evidence violates international agreements.
The Norwegian geese migrate to Greece and fly via Russia and Kazakhstan, a route that Sarah Nordlinder says is dangerous. Therefore, in the 1980s, Sweden chose to have the Swedish mountain geese migrate to Germany and the Netherlands instead.
"It is a much safer route. There is no scientific evidence that changed migration routes are a threat," she says.
Response: "Unacceptable"
The Norwegian Environment Agency tells Expressen that many Swedish mountain geese come to Norway every year. This year, they have ordered the shooting of a specific individual that has been in the flock since last autumn.
"The Swedish population poses a threat to the wild population that we share with several countries, including Finland, Estonia, Hungary, and Greece," says Jo Anders Auran, an advisor at the agency.
According to the Norwegian perspective, it is a priority to prevent the populations from mixing, and they claim this is done within the framework of international cooperation.
"That the Swedish man-made population risks mixing with the original and destroying a historical migration route is completely unacceptable for Norway and goes against international guidelines. It also disrupts the species' ecological adaptation and natural interaction with the environment," he says.
They also state that they have only culled one bird previously, in 2015.