A Luxembourgish farmer has reported another suspected wolf attack, reigniting conversations about coexistence and wildlife management.
In autumn of 2023, authorities confirmed the presence of a wolf in the Grand Duchy after reviewing video footage of the animal near Echternach. It was the eighth confirmed sighting of a wolf in the country.
A number of criteria need to be fulfilled before the Environment Ministry gives confirmation on a wolf sighting. There have to be either DNA samples or video and photographic imagery that unequivocally show a wolf.
On Monday, speculation about another wolf in Luxembourg arose after a post by the Wildlife Protection Association went viral on social media. According to Alain Schmit, president of the association, the post was not designed to cause panic, but rather open a conversation about how to handle the return of wolves.
Recently, farmer Marc Elsen from Imbringen lost a calf to a suspected wolf attack. Silke Roth, who is an expert in wolf detection, travelled to Imbringen to check the cadaver. Although she also found traces of fox bites, the expert stated that only a wolf could have managed to rip off the animal's shoulder blade.
Samples were subsequently sent to a Hamburg laboratory for analysis. In the meantime, Laurent Schley, the Luxembourg government's own wolf expert, argues that there is no need to panic, but also pleads that people should continue to alert authorities to potential sightings.
