European Wolves

[peter]

WOLVES IN THE NETHERLANDS

This post has 3 recent reports I found on the site of the national broadcasting company (NOS). All articles are in Dutch, that is.

1 - Friesland Province 

Friesland, in the northwestern part of the Netherlands, is a largely rural province bordering the Waddenzee in the north and west and the IJsselmeer (a large artificial kind of lake with a connection to the Waddenzee and the Noordzee) in the south. In a real winter, you can visit the famous Elfstedentocht. As a result of the low population density, the director of the big cat facility I often visited decided it would be ideal. It was.

The last wolf was seen in 1712. Over 3 centuries later, the wolf returned to Friesland: 

https://nos.nl/artikel/2231843-wolf-na-honderden-jaren-weer-gezien-in-friesland.html

2 - Drente Province

Drente Province, bordering Germany, has seen its fair share of wolves already. All wolves visiting Drente stayed for a few nights only. Rangers now think that one of them might have selected her new home in this province. The report has a video:  

 https://nos.nl/artikel/2232953-vermoedens-in-drenthe-eerste-wolf-vestigt-zich-definitief.html

3 - The old debate revisited

Experts estimate that Europe now has 12 000 - 15 000 wolves. Quite a few think this is way more than needed. In some countries (Sweden and Germany), wolves can be shot in some parts of the year. Politicians think this should be the policy in all of Europe. The reason is farmers. And sheep. Rumour has it that wolves, every now and then, ehhh, urm, kill sheep. 

As a result, the old debate has erupted once more: 

https://nos.nl/artikel/2231922-opkomst-wolf-in-europa-afschieten-of-juist-trots-zijn.html Reply