Wolf attack on a child in Netherlands prompts strengthened warnings
In the Utrecht province of the Netherlands, a controversial decision has been made to shoot a problematic wolf named Bram (GW3237m). The wolf has been linked to multiple attacks on humans, including a recent incident where a six-year-old boy was attacked and dragged into a forest near the Pyramide van Austerlitz.
Last week, a judge rejected an appeal against the permit to shoot Bram, citing the wolf's direct threat to public safety. The province issued the permit to hunters to kill Bram until January 1, 2026. This decision comes after expert assessments and consultations with Dutch experts and international wolf specialists.
The wolf's behavior has been described as abnormal and worrying by the experts. In May 2025, Bram bit a woman in the leg, and last year, he bit a child during a school trip. The European Parliament downgraded wolves from “strictly protected” to “protected” status in May 2025, making legal culling measures easier. However, Dutch legislation has yet to fully enact this change.
To manage the situation better, the province plans to tag the entire Utrechtse Heuvelrug wolf pack with trackers by the end of the year. Additionally, the authorities have issued a warning for the public to avoid forests and nature reserves on the Utrechtse Heuvelrug between the A12 and A28. Children under ten are advised not to walk alone in the forest, and dogs should be kept on short leashes.
The incident that sparked the latest wave of concern occurred on Wednesday when Bram attacked a six-year-old child near the Pyramid of Austerlitz and dragged the child into a nearby forest. The child was taken to a hospital with bite wounds, and DNA tests are ongoing to confirm the wolf's involvement.
Protests against the decision to kill Bram have been initiated, with organizations planning court challenges. Meanwhile, the province has imposed a ban on nighttime access to the Utrechtse Heuvelrug nature reserve and urges visitors to walk in groups and avoid straying off paths to reduce risks. The authorities aim to work together to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
[1] DutchNews.nl [2] NOS [3] Algemeen Dagblad
- The debate surrounding the controversial decision to shoot wolf Bram in the Utrecht province of the Netherlands has extended to various sectors, encompassing war-and-conflicts, politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice, as protests against the decision have been initiated, and organizations are planning court challenges.
- Aside from the ongoing controversy, the authorities have taken additional measures to address the problematic wolf situation, including issuing warnings for the public, managing the wolf pack via trackers, and enforcing stricter rules within nature reserves, which are elements of general-news, politics, and crime-and-justice, as well as environmental and wildlife protection.
