The return of the wolf to the Netherlands is a unique situation because the animal has never before settled in a country with such a high human and livestock density. This is stated by researchers from Wageningen University’s WENR in the journal Nature regarding a report published on Wednesday.
In recent years, the wolf has discovered the Netherlands as a migration route, and several animals have decided to settle here. For 150 years, there were no wolves in the Netherlands, but in the past six years, 34 have been observed, and about five have established themselves. The researchers expect that number to increase in the coming years, although the pace is unknown.
This study was conducted on behalf of BIJ12, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, and the Interprovincial Consultation. The current government Interprovincial Wolf Plan is due for revision.
Although most damage to livestock is caused by dogs and foxes rather than wolves, good protection of livestock against wolves is essential to enable sustainable coexistence, the researchers advise. If a wolf or dog touches an electric fence, the animal quickly learns to stay away.
"But you must do this consistently; otherwise, it makes no sense," the researchers state. The Netherlands has a compensation program for damage caused by wolves. In addition, subsidies are available for preventive measures. Figures show little enthusiasm for using these. Even in hotspots like the Veluwe and Drenthe, few subsidy applications are made.
The report also outlines the origin of the wolf population. In recent years, wolves have been active in nearly half of the Netherlands. The average size of a wolf territory is two hundred square kilometers. So far, there are six: one in Drenthe, two in Overijssel, two in Gelderland, and one in North Brabant.
The majority of the ‘Dutch’ wolves originate from Germany and Poland. This population is moving west and south, settling in Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Austria. Four of them now live in the Veluwe.
Two also come from the Alpine wolf population (France, Switzerland, Northern Italy). One of these wolves now resides in the province of Brabant.