Netherlands has deadliest wolves in Europe; 25 animals killed per wolf last year
The Netherlands has the deadliest wolves in Europe, the Telegraaf wrote based on research by Wageningen University.
According to the researchers, 131 wolves killed approximately 3,300 animals in the Netherlands last year. That amounts to slightly more than 25.2 animals killed per wolf - the highest in Europe.
Belgian wolves are in second place, with a kill count of 24.1 animals per wolf. In Norway, that number is 21.9. Croatia and Austria follow with 16.9 and 16.2, respectively.
State Secretary Silvio Erkens (Agriculture, VVD) recently announced that he was relaxing the rules around killing wolves in the Netherlands. From this week, provinces can start issuing culling permits for problem wolves, and private individuals like farmers are allowed to deter the animals using lights and noise.
He also said that he wants to team up with Germany to see if the wolf population on both sides of the border can be jointly managed. According to Erkens, the wolves in the Netherlands are part of the same population as in Germany. “It is actually a bit strange that we are doing this at a national level.”
