Bram (wolf)
Bram, officially designated GW3237m, was a wolf living in the Netherlands, from c. 2022 to 2025. Unusually unafraid of dogs and humans, he was involved in several incidents between 2024 and 2025. This ultimately led to his killing being approved, a rare decision that came amid wider debate about the place of wolves in the Netherlands.
Incidents
In 2024, Bram was involved in multiple incidents with dogs and children. This led the province of Utrecht to grant a permit to capture, sedate and put a transmitter on him, so that he could be negatively conditioned with a paintball gun. However, the decision was contested in court by environmental activists and subsequently stricken down.[1]
On 19 March 2025, a hiker was bitten by an animal in the Den Treek-Henschoten estate, part of Leusden municipality in Utrecht Province.[2] This led to a partial closure of the estate, pending confirmation through a DNA test that this was a wolf attack as suspected. Following this new attack, the Province of Utrecht this time requested a permit to shoot the wolf, deeming him a risk for public safety. The decision was upheld in court.[3][4]
On 30 July 2025, a six-year-old playing near the Pyramid of Austerlitz was attacked by a wolf. The boy suffered bites and abrasions to his back and under his armpit, as described by his parents and on photos provided to the media.[5] While wolf experts already suspected Bram is responsible, this was confirmed two weeks later following an emergency DNA analysis performed by Wageningen University.[6] In the same announcement, the Province of Utrecht reiterated its advice to avoid the surrounding area.
References
- ↑ Klute, Eva (12 December 2025). "Wolf Bram werd door de boswachter aanvankelijk met gejuich ontvangen, maar bleek al snel een probleem voor de mensen". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 April 2026.
- ↑ "Organisaties avondvierdaage wijzigen route na mogelijke wolvenbeet Den Treek". NOS.nl (in Dutch). 20 May 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
- ↑ "Rechter: provincie Utrecht mag probleemwolf laten afschieten". NOS.nl (in Dutch). 23 July 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
- ↑ Seine, Famke (23 July 2025). "'Probleemwolf' Bram mag nog steeds worden afgeschoten, oordeelt rechter". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 April 2026.
- ↑ "Bijt- en schaafwonden bij 6-jarig jongetje na incident met vermoedelijk wolf". NOS.nl (in Dutch). 30 July 2025. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
- ↑ "GW3237m betrokken bij incident Austerlitz". Provincie Utrecht (in Dutch). 15 August 2025. Retrieved 26 April 2026.