Escaped wolf shot by police after attacking sheep in Tegelen

Police in Tegelen shot and killed an escaped wolf Saturday after the animal attacked three sheep and attempted to cross the A73 highway.

The wolf was first spotted in the Kasteellaan area, where the sheep were killed. Authorities attempted to capture the animal, but it proved difficult because the wolf was wary and evasive, according to a police spokesperson.

“When the wolf tried to cross the A73, officers shot the animal,” the spokesperson said. “That choice is made on the spot.”

It is not clear where the wolf escaped from, but police confirmed it was not a wild wolf. “It is most likely that the animal was kept privately as a hobby,” the spokesperson said.