Where did the Westhoek wolf go?
In principle, wolves can go into hiding for a longer period of time, but not a single sighting in a month and a half worries experts.
“It may still turn up abroad, based on DNA samples that we find. But if we find nothing, you have to conclude that it died in Ruiselede, where it was last seen. Then malicious intent cannot be ruled out,” says Jan Loos of the Welcome Wolf nature association.
Punishable
It wouldn’t be the first time that wolves are killed here in Flanders, just think of she-wolf Naya. This does not change anything for the wolf population, but it is extremely punishable. “It carries a prison sentence of five years and a fine of half a million euros. It is extremely illegal to kill a European protected animal.”
However, it is not certain that the wolf was actually killed. “We have already experienced that a wolf lives in hiding for more than half a year. But that is extremely rare. It will no longer be walking around in Flanders.
Golden jackal
Wolves are not animals to settle in West Flanders. “The terrain is too densely populated and the prey is too small. That’s why they’re moving away,” says Jan Loos.
However, the European golden jackal is advancing in our regions. The animal comes from Turkey and comes to us this way. “It’s not a question of ‘is the jackal coming here?’, it’s ‘when is the jackal coming to our region?’. We’re already seeing them popping up in all our neighboring countries, so it’s the same story as with the wolf.”
“The big difference is that the golden jackal can nest in West Flanders. “It is slightly larger than a fox, smaller than a wolf, but has the same requirements as a fox. It can feed on smaller prey, such as rodents and lambs, and the jackal needs less surface area.”