Dossier

Wolves

After an absence of approximately 150 years, the wolf has re-established itself in the Netherlands. This dossier provides you with the latest news, background information and results of Wageningen University & Research on wolves in the Netherlands.

Wageningen University & Research monitors the return of the wolf through DNA research. Faeces that are found are tested for DNA in our labs, to determine if they are wolf-faeces, and if so, from which specific animal. To this end, we collaborate with the German research institute Senckenberg though the CEwolf-consortium. This information allows provincial governments to take substantiated decisions on their policies regarding the wolf. Most wolves in the Netherlands lead a roaming existence, but the first female wolf has now settled on the Veluwe.

Fauna consultants also extract DNA from sheep suspected to have been slain by a wolf. Our research reveals whether a wolf is indeed the predator responsible for the sheep’s death within a month: the BIJ12 website documents these instances and the DNA results (only in Dutch). Each quarter a genetic profile is generates for these cases, to enable individual identification.

This is how our research works

Ecological genetics
05 November 2015 - Product or service - Molecular genetic techniques are becoming increasingly important for the study of biodiversity and nature conservation. Differences in the exact code of their DNA (genetic variation) allow not only the discrimination of different species, but also of different individuals within species. Thus, genetic techniques can be used to detect or identify species, and to assess relationships between individuals. This is very helpful for answering a broad range of applied and scientific questions related to nature conservation. Using molecular methods we study levels of diversity in ecosystems, we assess the viability of populations or the impact of management or infrastructural changes on this viability, we reveal dispersal patterns, and track the origin of individuals.

News about wolves

We must learn to live alongside wolves
06 October 2021 - category_news - Wolves have returned to the Netherlands. Over the past few years, the animals have started passing through the Netherlands, with a number of them deciding to settle here. “It’s a unique situation,” says researcher Hugh Jansman. “Wolves have never previously established themselves in a country so densely populated by humans and livestock.” The report published on 6 October sets out all the findings.

Wolves

This is how our research works

Ecological genetics

News about wolves

We must learn to live alongside wolves

News 2012-2020

Publications about wolves