The wildlife organisation Welkom Wolf has raised alarms over the declining wolf population in Belgium, with a significantly low number of cubs born in 2024.
According to the organisation, no cubs were born in Flanders this year, and only 11 were born in Wallonia. This stands in stark contrast to the Netherlands, where 55 wolf cubs were born in 2024.
The organisation points to the fact that southern Belgium provides more suitable habitats for wolves compared to both the Netherlands and Flanders, making the low cub numbers even more concerning.
“That is ridiculously low when you know that southern Belgium is more suitable [for wolves] than the Netherlands and Flanders combined,” said Welkom Wolf, stressing the urgent need for action.
Jan Loos, a spokesperson for Welkom Wolf, expressed optimism that wolf cubs may be born around Limburg in the spring of 2025. However, he also warned that the future of the species in Belgium is precarious.
“Everything is hanging by a thread; if one of the adult wolves is hit, the chances of having cubs shrink enormously,” Loos cautioned, highlighting the fragility of the wolf population.
The situation took a tragic turn in March 2024, when a vehicle collision is believed to have killed Maxima, a well-known female wolf from the northern High Fens.
Maxima, who had been first spotted in December 2020, had given birth to several litters between 2021 and 2023. Her death has further highlighted the vulnerabilities of the species in Belgium, as collisions with vehicles remain a major threat to wolf survival.
In response to the ongoing risks posed by road traffic, Welkom Wolf has renewed its calls for the implementation of safer infrastructure for wildlife.
“We know where the wolves are, where they often cross the road. We have been asking for ecoducts, ecovalleys, or fencing at the dangerous points for years, but it just doesn’t happen,” Loos said, urging the Flemish government to take action.
He hopes that the new Minister of Mobility, Annick De Ridder, will prioritise these necessary safety measures. While De Ridder acknowledges the concerns of Welkom Wolf, she has stated that other issues currently take precedence in public works.
“Our focus is currently on the core tasks within public works: making sure there are no more potholes and holes in our roads, that our bridges and tunnels are properly maintained, and that enough new buses and trams are running around,” she explained, responding to the group’s demands.
Another challenge facing the wolf population in Belgium is illegal hunting, which is believed to occur mainly in private domains, particularly in Wallonia.
Welkom Wolf claims that there are suitable areas in Wallonia for wolf territories, but the animals are often shot. “There is no supervision of those private domains. And the Walloon Government just looks the other way,” Loos said.
The issue of wolf protection has been further complicated by recent changes in the legal status of wolves. In early December 2024, the wolf was downgraded from a ‘strictly protected’ to a ‘protected’ species by the member states of the Bern Convention.
This decision, according to the Walloon nature organisation Natagora, was politically motivated and linked to the increase in wolf populations and the number of attacks on livestock.
Currently, Belgium is estimated to have around 20 wolves, including three established wolves in Flanders and three packs of approximately five or six animals in the High Fens.
Welkom Wolf is urging the public to report any wolf sightings to their hotline to assist in monitoring and protecting the species.
With continued threats from both human activity and lack of government action, the future of wolves in Belgium remains uncertain.
