The increase in the number of wolf attacks on sheep is not prompting farmers to take preventative measures, an analysis of data accumulated by wolf monitoring body BIJ 12 has shown.

Wolves have attacked almost as many sheep and other animals in the first six months of this year as in the whole of 2023, the figures, collated by news agency ANP, showed.

In the northeastern provinces there were 166 wolf attacks in the period, compared to 19 in 2023. Attacks rose by 50 in Gelderland alone.

Almost none of the farmers involved had taken steps to protect their flocks, such as installing wolf-proof fences or other preventative measures, despite provincial subsidies of up to €20,000 for electrified fencing.

Farmers are compensated for the loss of their animals, but according to Chris van Geel, who heads a national wolf advisory group, that may be contributing to farmers’ inaction. Prevention should be key and compensation should be scaled down over the next few years, he told Nu.nl.

According to the most recent figures, some €350,000 was paid out to farmers in 2022. As long as the compensation scheme is in place, farmers will be less inclined to focus on prevention, Van Geel said.

There are currently 51 wolves living in the Netherlands, up 22 from 18 months ago, according to figures from last winter.

The comeback of the wolf, which had been absent in the Netherlands for 200 years, has been mired in controversy. The provincial authorities have been struggling to come up with measures to deter wolf attacks or keep away wolves that have become too used to people, all of which have floundered because of the animal’s protected status.

Two incidents involving two young children, who were later found not to have suffered bites, prompted the Utrecht provincial authorities to apply for a licence to shoot the wolf thought to be responsible.

Farmers’ party and coalition partner BBB, which has been lobbying to restrict the wolves’ protected status, recently called for a “wolf-free zone the size of the Netherlands”.