Wolf attack endangers young Dutch citizen, prompting increased safety measures
In the Utrecht region of the Netherlands, a six-year-old child was attacked by a problem wolf, known as Bram, in a forest near the city. The incident, which occurred near the Austerlitz Pyramid on Wednesday, has raised concerns about the safety of hikers in the Utrechtse Heuvelrug nature reserve.
Bram, identified by tag number GW3237m, has a history of abnormal and disturbing behavior. Previously, the wolf has bitten a jogger and a child during a school trip, and DNA evidence has confirmed its involvement in several local attacks.
The authorities have classified Bram as a "problem wolf" and obtained court approval to shoot the animal to prevent further incidents. This decision was made after a judge rejected an appeal against the permit about a week ago.
As a precaution, the province of Utrecht has intensified its warning for people to stay out of forests, farmlands, and nature reserves between the A12 and A28. Experts believe it is unsafe for hikers to be in these areas as long as Bram is present.
Safety measures include warnings advising people, especially those with children under 10 and dogs, to avoid entering the affected forest areas alone and to stay on marked paths. The warning zone around the nature reserve is being expanded, and residents have been urged to exercise caution until the situation is resolved.
Last year, there were several incidents involving Bram, including biting a woman in the leg and a child during a school trip. This marks the second time the problem wolf has attacked people in the nature reserve.
The province of Utrecht stated that they want to work together to prevent such incidents from happening again. They are cooperating with Dutch and international wolf experts to manage the situation effectively.
Following these incidents, the European Parliament downgraded the wolf’s protected status from ‘strictly protected’ to ‘protected’ to facilitate managing problem wolves. However, implementing these changes into Dutch national law is still underway.
The authorities aim to prevent further incidents involving Bram and ensure the safety of the public. They urge everyone to follow the safety guidelines and avoid entering the affected forest areas until the problem wolf is no longer a threat.
The authorities are working with Dutch and international wolf experts to manage the problem wolf, Bram, identified by tag number GW3327m, known for its abnormal and distressing behavior, which includes previous attacks on a jogger, a child during a school trip, and a woman. In light of these incidents, the authorities have obtained court approval to shoot the wolf and expanded safety warnings for hikers, especially families with children under 10 and dog owners, to stay away from affected forest areas. The European Parliament has downgraded the wolf’s protected status to facilitate managing such problem wolves, but implementing these changes into Dutch national law is still in progress.
