Sweden resumes wolf hunt

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Swedish hunters have shot dead 20 wolves, as the country begins its first authorised wolf hunt in 45 years, in an effort to keep the population at a controllable level.

The near month-long hunt allows the killing of a total of 27 wolves.

Susanna Lovgren of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency says the hunt follows a parliamentary decision to keep Sweden's wolf population below 210 animals.

Sweden stopped issuing hunting licences in the 1965-1966 season when the predator was near extinction in the country.

Since then, the population has recovered and there are now believed to be between 182 and 217 wolves in Sweden.

- AP