It is the county administrative board in Gotland County that has now decided to protect the swan. In recent years it has attacked and killed a large number of eider ducks on Stora Karlsö. It has also attacked the veins as they try to protect their young. It is Karlsö hunting and animal welfare management AB that manages the island, which applied for the shelter.

Unusual behavior

According to the company's supervisor, the swan has only killed about a hundred kids last year.

- This behavior is not uncommon in humpback swans, but then it usually occurs in limited waters where the competition for food is greater. On the other hand, the fact that a humpback tail does so where the space is unlimited is unusual, says Mimmi Skog, administrator at the County Administrative Board's nature conservation unit in a press release.

Ejdern threatened

The future of Ejder on Stora Karlsö is threatened. A bird count in June counted 334 females - but only 16 cubs. The County Administrative Board therefore motivates the hunt that the interest in protecting the eider on the island outweighs the protection of the aggressive swan.