Sheep attacked by wild animals in Luhanga, Finland

In a recent incident in Luhanga, Finland, a total of 23 sheep were attacked by wild animals, resulting in the death of nine. Tero Karppinen, who has served as the wildlife liaison officer for the past 20 years, stated that he has never witnessed such extensive damage before, calling the case “unique and regrettable.”

Authorities are currently following guidelines from the police and the wildlife agency regarding the situation. Permits for animal removal have been requested, and a decision is awaited in Tammijärvi. Two separate removals are necessary for more forceful measures to be implemented.

Although wildlife damage is not uncommon in Luhanga, Karppinen highlighted that incidents usually involve individual farm animals rather than mass attacks. Damage has been recorded from various predators, including bears, wolverines, wolves, and lynxes. However, such a large-scale incident is rare.

Over the past year, there have been numerous wolf sightings in Luhanga, particularly in South Luhanga around the villages of Judinsalo, Onkisalo, and Tommola, where a group of three wolves has been spotted. Several sightings have also been reported in the Tammijärvi–Lempää region. Karppinen noted that there have been approximately 30 wolf sightings this year alone.

The sheep attack occurred just over a kilometer from the center of Tammijärvi and a local school. While Karppinen could not say if the number of sheep killed would expedite the removal decision, he expressed hope that it would have an impact.