Netherlands faces organized wolf poaching, Veluwe identified as hotspot

An independent investigation by EcoJust found that at least 41 wolves have been illegally killed in the Netherlands since the species returned in 2018, a level the researchers say is far from a marginal occurrence. The report describes a “widespread network of organized poaching” that operates with near‑impunity, aided by weak enforcement and the tacit support of some rural communities.

Methods used include shooting, deliberate vehicle collisions, and poisoning, with carcasses often buried, burned or disposed of in manure pits to destroy evidence. The Veluwe region, especially its northern and central areas (around Nunspeet, Hulshorst, Elspeet, Doornspijk, Ede, Barneveld and Apeldoorn), was highlighted as the primary hotspot for these activities. Two confirmed poaching cases occurred in Gelderland (Stroe in 2021 and Ugchelen in 2022), and many additional wolf disappearances remain unexplained.

The study links rising anti‑wolf sentiment on social media and among some livestock owners to the surge in illegal killings, noting that political framing of wolves as “intruders” exacerbates the problem. EcoJust calls for restored trust between authorities and rural communities, stronger protection measures, and improved law‑enforcement to curb the organized wildlife crime.