The Swiss delegation proposed to change the status of the wolf from "strictly protected", like the bear and the lynx, to "protected" like hares and weasels.

The change would allow regulated hunting of wolves if there was no danger to the population.

Wolf numbers have recovered since the convention was signed 26 years ago and the risk of illegal hunting was rising because of the threat to livestock, according to the Swiss proposal.

The British delegation, presenting the EU position in its presidency role, opposed the proposal and Switzerland was requested to bring a more detailed proposal to next year's convention meeting.

Environment groups welcomed the rejection of the Swiss proposal which was described as "farcical" by France Nature Environment (FNE) given that the country with one of the smallest wolf populations wanted to authorise hunting. "The Swiss provided no scientific evidence nor new policy," FNE spokesman Alain Zecchini said.

"The goal of the convention is the protection of species, even if the article IX allows killing in certain cases but not on a permanent basis," he said.

The 1979 Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, established under the auspices of the Council of Europe, aims in particular to protect endangered and vulnerable species.

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