It is the dream of many nature photographers: capturing a Dutch wolf in its natural habitat. In Oude Willem that dream came true for many, when a young wolf showed itself up close for hours.
“I was at the Lauwersmeer this morning to photograph short-eared owls, but when I heard the news I immediately got into the car. I wanted to get here as quickly as possible,” says Kees van der Hoop from Damwâld. “I had not yet been able to photograph a wolf in such an environment in the Netherlands. Now it is. Really amazing.”
Everyone wants to see it
Van der Hoop is not the only one standing along the Oude Willemsweg, on the border between Friesland and Drenthe. During this Wednesday, more and more nature lovers and photographers are informed that a wolf can be seen here. That in itself is not special, but this copy seems to care very little about its audience. Occasionally the wolf comes within a few meters of the road.
“He was leisurely hunting mice here when I drove up,” says Luca Spin from Elsloo. “I fell flat.”
He proudly shows his photos, which capture the predator in razor-sharp detail. “It is a young animal, probably a year old. He is beautiful in his coat. It shines so hard that it looks as if it has Andrélon in it.”
‘Clearly I had to take a look’
Just like Van der Hoop, Spin had never had a wolf in front of the lens before. “It was already reported on Facebook on Sunday evening that a specimen had been seen here that did not seem shy, in a Facebook group of people who are against the wolf. When a wolf was seen again in the same spot yesterday and this morning, it was clear to me that I had to take a look. I don’t regret that.”
Spin and Van der Hoop are enjoying the experience together with Martijn Dekker from Hollandscheveld around 2:30 PM. In the distance the wolf can occasionally be seen when it walks between the bushes, but this reporter is just too late for beautiful pictures. Not a problem, because the trio of photographers has received the loot. They would love to donate a photo for the newspaper. “Gladly,” Dekker laughs. “You rarely experience this, of course. Very special.”