A six-year-old boy was injured yesterday morning in what authorities believe was an attack by a wolf near the Pyramide van Austerlitz in the province of Utrecht.
The young boy was playing near the historic Pyramide van Austerlitz when the suspected wolf encounter occurred.
The animal attempted to drag the child away into the forest.
Bitten and dragged by the armpit
Speaking with the NOS, his father, Mike, explains that his son sustained claw marks, bite wounds, and scratches on his back and under his armpit during the incident.
The child was immediately transported by ambulance to the University Medical Center (UMC) in Utrecht, where he received stitches before being discharged the same day.
“We’re shaken by what happened, and we both have a kind of realisation that we were lucky,” Mike tells reporters.
He wasn’t present during the morning incident but rushed to the forest after hearing what had happened. Concerningly, he noted that other families with children were still walking in the area.
Hit with sticks
According to the AD, witnesses to the attack started hitting the wolf with sticks as he tried to drag the child away. He eventually released the child and ran into the woods.
The AD also reports that the forest has been dealing with one particularly problematic wolf called Bram.
A province spokesperson tells the paper that DNA tests are being done to determine whether a wolf indeed carried out the attack and whether Bram could be the perpetrator.
This isn’t the first time wolves have caused concern in Dutch nature areas, with children often being the target of the attacks.
Do not visit alone or with your children and dogs
Following the incident, Landgoed Den Treek has strongly advised visitors to avoid the area with children and dogs until further notice. “Safety comes first!” their website warns.
In a statement, Woudenberg Mayor Magda Jansen, whose municipality includes the Pyramide van Austerlitz, expressed deep sympathy for the family while highlighting ongoing concerns.
“In recent months, I’ve repeatedly voiced my great concern about the wolf situation in our area. The impact on many people is particularly significant, people’s safety is at stake, and the uncertainty among entrepreneurs and farmers is also enormous,” she said.
The mayor has sharpened safety advice for the area: “Please follow this advice. Don’t go into the forest with children. As an adult, you’ll also need to be very alert if you enter the forest. Stay on the paths and especially don’t go into the forest alone.”
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When wolves were introduced to the woods and no natural supply of food was made available, you’re rather asking for trouble. People should be able to enjoy the woods with kids and dogs! Maybe relocate the wolves to a place they can survive happily and let the amazing woods be enjoyed by everyone else?
I agee 100 %. This country is too small for wolves, they need lots of space.
!Caroline,
Humans are everywhere on Earth! Where do you want to “relocate” non-human living beings? To the moon?
No! It’s humans who need to be “relocated”! Earth is not the private property of humans!
Thank you for knowing that our planet is better off shared with all wildlife and the habitat they need. So many people do not realize, if they don’t fight to protect habitat and wildlife for all, we will eventually become a concrete jungle where only the rats survive with us. We must coexist.
The wolves were on this planet first. Try coexisting.