Dutch Scientists Track Wolf's Epic 2,500-Kilometer Journey Across Four Provinces
Otterlo, Friday, 9 January 2026.
Researchers at Wageningen University are revolutionizing wildlife tracking by following a GPS-collared wolf that traveled an extraordinary 2,500 kilometers across the Netherlands in just three months. The groundbreaking study combines advanced animal monitoring with citizen participation, as over 400 park visitors voluntarily carry GPS trackers to map human-wildlife interactions. This comprehensive approach provides unprecedented insights into how wolves navigate densely populated landscapes, with the tracked wolf swimming across rivers and crossing highways nightly while moving through nine different pack territories.
Innovative Research Methodology Combines Animal and Human Tracking
The research initiative launched by Wageningen University & Research in October 2025 represents a sophisticated approach to understanding wildlife behavior in human-dominated landscapes [1]. Scientists have equipped four deer and one wolf with transmitters while simultaneously engaging over 400 park visitors to voluntarily carry GPS trackers throughout De Hoge Veluwe National Park [1]. This dual-tracking methodology allows researchers to map both animal movements and human activity patterns within the same geographical area, providing unprecedented data on species interactions. Jakob Leidekker, Head of Operations at De Hoge Veluwe National Park, noted that “these trackers have covered almost 13,000 kilometres within the park,” though he cautioned that “we still have insufficient data to draw conclusions about interactions between wolves, prey animals and people” [1].
GPS Wolf’s Remarkable Cross-Country Journey
The wolf fitted with a GPS transmitter on October 16, 2025, has demonstrated remarkable mobility across the Netherlands, traveling 2528.5 kilometers through four provinces: Gelderland, Overijssel, Drenthe, and Utrecht [1]. This translates to an average daily movement of 27.786 approximately 28 kilometers per day since tagging began [1]. Frank van Langevelde, a WUR researcher, explained that “after being fitted with a transmitter in De Hoge Veluwe National Park, the predator left almost immediately” [1]. The wolf’s journey took it through Overijssel and Drenthe before returning to the Veluwe region, where it remained primarily in the south-eastern Veluwe (Veluwezoom) and the Het Loo Royal Estate from late October to early December 2025 [1]. On December 6, 2025, the wolf relocated to the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, where it has maintained frequent presence [1].
Advanced Navigation Through Human Infrastructure
The tracked wolf has demonstrated sophisticated navigation abilities within the densely populated Dutch landscape, crossing significant human infrastructure barriers during its journey [1]. Van Langevelde highlighted that “the collared wolf demonstrates how well wolves are able to move through the Dutch landscape,” noting that “the predator swam across the River IJssel, both there and back” [1]. Additionally, the wolf crossed multiple motorways, consistently timing these dangerous crossings during nighttime hours to minimize human contact [1]. The animal’s movement pattern reveals predominantly nocturnal activity, with the wolf sheltering during daylight hours in dense pine forests or smaller thickets [1]. This behavior pattern suggests adaptive strategies for navigating human-dominated environments, though Van Langevelde cautioned that “more data, research and time are needed” to confirm these behavioral interpretations [1].
Pack Territory Analysis and Conservation Implications
The GPS-tracked wolf’s extensive journey has provided valuable insights into pack territory dynamics across the Netherlands, having passed through the territories of nine different wolf packs during its three-month monitoring period [1]. This includes six of the eight established Veluwe packs, two packs in Drenthe, and the Utrechtse Heuvelrug pack [1]. The research has revealed potential challenges in the tracking program, as one deer died from bacterial septicaemia and pneumonia just days after being fitted with a transmitter in October 2025, leading to a temporary suspension of the tracking program [1]. This comprehensive data collection approach represents a significant advancement in understanding wolf population dynamics and territorial behavior in Europe’s most densely populated country, providing crucial baseline data for future conservation and management decisions [1]. The study’s findings will likely inform wildlife management strategies not only in the Netherlands but across Europe, where wolf populations are expanding into increasingly human-dominated landscapes.