Incident during an excursion

Netherlands: Wolf bites girl in nature park

In the Netherlands, the authorities have closed part of an extensive nature park after a little girl was bitten by a wolf. The Den Treek area was closed "as a precautionary measure", explained the local authorities in the municipality of Leusden.

The authorities referred to "several incidents involving a wolf". The police have not confirmed the little girl's wolf bite, but they are taking the case "very seriously", said a spokeswoman for the Utrecht region.

According to her parents, the girl was bitten on the thigh during an outing with her kindergarten. The child suffered "minor injuries" but was mostly "shocked", explained the kindergarten management. However, the girl is doing well.

The number of wolves in Europe has increased significantly in recent years due to protection measures. However, the growth of the wolf population has sparked great protest among farmers.