Experts tracking wolf sighted in southern Swedish city outskirts

Apr 11, 2011, 10:44 GMT

Stockholm - Experts were Monday trying to track down and anaesthesize a wolf sighted on the outskirts of the southern city of Helsingborg.

Several sightings were made Sunday. On Monday, staff at an animal hospital spotted the wolf and alerted authorities as they feared it might attack dogs kept there.

'As far as we know, the animal has not caused any harm,' said Nils Carlsson, head of predators at the Skane county administrative board.

The wolf was, however, roaming a well-trafficked area. Therefore, officials hoped to anaesthesize it and move it to another location as soon as possible.

A possible option was the Skane animal park, which specializes in Nordic animals. Experts from the animal park were working with police.

Several witnesses reported sighting the wolf at close range at the weekend, the online edition of the local Helsingborgs Dagblad reported.

Sweden has an estimated 200 wolves. But it is unusual that they range as far south as Skane.

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