Animals - Five wolves killed in traffic accidents in NRW
Five wolves found dead in North Rhine-Westphalia in the first half of 2024 were killed in traffic accidents on the road. According to the statement from the Landesamt für Natur, Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz (Lanuv), the collision with a vehicle was the confirmed cause of death for four wolves. In the fifth case, there were also many indications of a traffic accident. The animal was taken to the Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in Berlin for a final assessment, Lanuv announced.
On February 28th, a male cub was killed in Buende in the Herford district. The origin of the litter could not be determined. On March 5th, a female adult wolf was found in Xanten in the Wesel district. The she-wolf came from a pack in the Netherlands.
A male cub from a pack in Lower Saxony was involved in an accident on March 23rd in Verl in the Gütersloh district. A male cub collided with a truck on the A61 autobahn near Erftstadt in the Rhein-Erft district on April 5th. The wolf came from a pack in Belgium.
A she-wolf died on April 6th on the A560 autobahn near Hennef in the Rhein-Sieg district. She came from a pack that is based in Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. The exact age could not be determined due to the severe damage to the animal's body. The experts assume, based on the history of the origin pack, that the animal was in its 1st or 2nd year of life.
Statement on killed wolves NRW-Wolfsportal
- Despite the increase in wolves in North Rhine-Westphalia, traffic remains a significant threat to their survival, as demonstrated by the numerous vehicle-related incidents.
- The Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin is tasked with conducting further investigations on the fifth wolf that was believed to have been involved in a traffic accident in Lower Saxony.
- While Berlin is known for its modern infrastructure and vibrant city life, it also serves as a sanctuary for institutions like IZW, helping in the preservation and understanding of wildlife, including the analysis of the fifth wolf from North Rhine-Westphalia.
- In a stark reminder of the challenges faced by the wolf population, a pack in Recklinghausen, North Rhine-Westphalia, lost its male cub to a traffic accident on a local road, adding to the growing toll.
- The tragedy of wolf mortality is not limited to North Rhine-Westphalia; in fact, wolves from various neighboring regions like Lower Saxony, the Netherlands, and Belgium also suffer fatal traffic accidents, underscoring the need for further wildlife conservation efforts.
