Wolf’s ‘disturbing’ behaviour prompts urgent warning to keep children away from forest
Growing population of wolves in Europe has led to increase in encounters with humans
Support truly
independent journalism
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
Louise Thomas
Editor
Authorities in the Netherlands have issued an urgent warning after a wolf exhibited “disturbing” behaviour, reportedly approaching children twice in a hiking area near Utrecht.
They called on "all visitors to be extremely cautious when visiting the Utrecht Hill Ridge area". "It is strongly advised not to visit these woods with young children," authorities in the Utrecht province said in a statement.
The warning came after “a large animal” knocked over a child in the village of Austerlitz east of Utrecht, The Guardian reported. A DNA test confirmed the animal to be a wolf.
Utrecht Hill Ridge, a heavily forested region, is popular with hikers, cyclists and runners. The area saw wolves reappear in 2015, after an absence of about 150 years.
The population of wolves in Europe has grown markedly due to conservation efforts, leading to an increase in human-animal encounters.
A nature park in central Netherlands was partly shut down last month after a girl was bitten by a wolf, reported AFP.
A survey by Dutch voting advice website Kieskompas and ANP news agency in July found that one in three Dutch people don’t want a wolf in the country, a marked decline in the share of wolf supporters from 41 per cent last year to 36 per cent this year.
The country has seen increasing wolf attacks on livestock and pets of late. There were as many as 267 reports of wolf attacks on domestic animals in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 77 over the same period last year, an analysis by ANP showed.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments