Wolf and Society – that is the name of the new book by forester and writer André Donker. In this book, the Apeldoorn native hopes to describe the ‘sometimes awkward relationship between people and nature’. In particular that between man and wolf.
With his new book, Donker wants to bridge the gap between proponents and opponents of the wolf. A noble, but unattainable goal? “No,” says Donker, “if we look back at the Dwingelderveld restoration project, for example, which at the time had many supporters and opponents, and now see that the Dwingelderveld is the largest tourist village in the Netherlands in the summer, then I think it is not too bad.” .The soup is not eaten as hot as it is served”.
It is therefore not his intention to cause supporters and opponents to defect to each other’s ‘camps’. “The two camps will always remain and they need each other. That is also the effect of building a bridge. The truth lies somewhere in the middle.”
Donker got the idea for the book because he sees that ‘many mistakes are made in the debate’ about the predator. “For example, look at the cancellation of that pony camp in the Drents-Friese Wold. There are 17 million outdoor rides per year and something happens 20,000 times a year. But that is nothing more than a fall or a kick from a horse. If If you compare that to a wolf, nothing happens at all.”
“There are many more predators all over the world. Not just wolves, but also lions, tigers and so on. People ride horses all over the world. You have to try to find that nuance,” Donker argues. In the book he describes ‘neatly and neatly’ why he does not support that reason. “The nuance must be included in the debate. Many more things happen with trees, for example.”
Forest ranger Donker has not lived in Drenthe for a while, but in the Veluwe. The largest wolf pack – about 35 wolves – in the Netherlands lives near his home. “Everyone in our neighborhood has seen a wolf at least once, they walk around our houses. I have seen many myself. Most of them in the Netherlands. Also a she-wolf with cubs who have hunting training. The wolf is standing I just don’t put it on a pedestal. He is part of nature.”
According to Donker, the wolf is mainly good at one thing: not making itself popular. “I understand the sentiment in Drenthe, that is logical, but we have laws and regulations that state that animal keepers must protect their animals from predators themselves. If a wolf comes in, you will receive compensation. I find that strange. In fact, we have “We have already agreed on this with the company. The damage will therefore be reimbursed by the company,” is Donker’s position.
In the Cassata fragment below you can hear André Donker about his book Wolf and Society.