Project Lesser White-fronted Goose

The Swedish Lesser White-fronted Goose Project is a conservation project which aims to have viable population of Lesser White-fronted goose (LWfG) in Sweden. The project has been running since 1975 and the focus has been on breeding and releasing LWfG to strengthen the wild population. Since 2011 the main part of the project’s activity is according to the Swedish action plan for the species. Head of the project is The Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management in cooperation with the foundation Nordens Ark and Norrbottens ornithological association. Further operations include measures to improve geese habitats and to reduce disturbance at sites which are used by Lesser White-fronted Geese. In addition, monitoring of the population and information activities are carried out. Sweden inhabits the only breeding population of LWfG within the European Union.

News

-The male Lesser White-fronted Goose that was wild-caught, ringed, and equipped with a GPS transmitter in 2024 has successfully returned, with its partner, to the pre-breeding site in Ammarnäs and has since moved into the breeding area. The female partner, originates from the reinforcement releases carried out in 2016.

Photo: Raf Vervoort, in Ammarnäs
  
The yellow line shows spring migration of the GPS-tagged bird, from the Netherlands to Ammarnäs, Västerbotten.

-On March 25, 2025, the first reports came to Artportalen about returning flocks of LWfG. This involved 17 individuals staging at Svartåmynningen nature reserve in Östergötland. Since then, over 40 individuals have been reported daily at the site and so also today (3 April). This is an easily accessible and beautiful place to enjoy LWfG and well worth a visit! Take the chance before they go on further north.

-A new collaboration has started between The Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management and the Company Fjällräven. This is extra good news for Project Lesser White-fronted Goose since we get to receive both a financial contribution and help to reach out to more people interested in nature in both Sweden and the rest of Europe. Wildlife conservation with Fjällräven (youtube.com)  

-The breading season of 2024 came out with a good result for the Swedish LWfG population. In total, a minimum 100 young LWfG have fledged in the past four years, compared to just over 30 in the previous four years.

 

Reports

Want to see the latest reports on Lesser White-fronted Goose? Click on the links below!

Reports from Sweden

Reports from Norway

Reports from Netherlands

In collaboration with