First Wolf Spotted in Belgium in Over a Century

A gray wolf. (RKPhoto/{Pixabay [CC0 Creative Commons])

A wild wolf has been spotted in Belgium for the first time in over a century.

The wolf was spotted near a military base in Leopoldsburg, Belgium, after it crossed the border with the Netherlands on Jan. 2, Belgium environmental group Landschap reports.

On Christmas, the wolf crossed the border between the Netherlands and Germany.

The wolf was wearing a radio collar, which is how German scientists were about to track its movements.

Wolves have been making a comeback in Western Europe, where urbanization and hunting had led to their near extinction, The Times reported.

According to the International Wolf Center, there are about 13,000 wolves in Europe, although there is no data for some countries, so that number could be higher.

Stricter protections of the species started with the Berne Convention of 1979, where the wolf was protected as part of the continent’s “natural European heritage.”

A gray wolf. (Zoosnow/Pixabay [CC0 Creative Commons])

Not all countries in Europe have signed onto the international agreement, however, but many have. In some countries, however, they are still considered a game species.

There was another wolf that was spotted in Gedinne, Belgium, right on the French-Belgium border, in 2011 but it was never confirmed.

“This wolf is real and wild, that’s for sure,” Landschap said of the latest sighting.

From NTD.tv

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