No cubs born in Flanders this year as Belgian wolf population remains low

No wolf cubs were born in Flanders in 2024, according to the organisation Welkom Wolf. With only around 20 wolves in all of Belgium, the group is calling for safer road infrastructure to protect the species.

While no cubs were reported in Flanders, Wallonia saw the birth of approximately 11 wolf cubs. However, this number remains very low compared to the 55 cubs born in the Netherlands this year. “It’s ridiculously low, especially considering southern Belgium is more suitable for wolves than the Netherlands and Flanders combined”, said Welkom Wolf.

Despite this, the organisation remains hopeful that wolf cubs could return to Flanders’ Limburg region in spring 2025, provided no adult wolves are harmed in the meantime. “If one adult wolf gets hit by a car, the chances of cubs diminish drastically”, explained Jan Loos of Welkom Wolf.

Road infrastructure

To support wolf conservation, Welkom Wolf is demanding urgent action on safer road infrastructure, such as wildlife crossings and fencing in high-risk areas. “We know where wolves frequently cross roads and we’ve been asking for eco-ducts or eco-valleys for years but nothing has been done”, Loos said. The group hopes newly appointed Flemish minister of mobility Annick De Ridder will address the issue.

Illegal hunting is another significant concern, particularly in Wallonia. According to Welkom Wolf, wolves are being killed on private land, with little oversight or enforcement. “There’s no supervision on private domains and the Walloon government simply looks the other way”, the organisation said.

Belgium’s wolf population is estimated at just 20, including three established wolves in Flanders and three packs of five to six wolves in the High Fens region. Welkom Wolf encourages the public to report any wolf sightings via their contact point.

^{​#FlandersNewsService | Wolves walk in the forest of the Bourbansais zoo in Pleugueneuc, France © AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE HUGUEN PHILIPPE HUGUEN / AFP}