Wolves back in Belgium

FOR the first time in over 100 years, wolves have returned in force to Belgium, marking a resurgence of these predators in Europe.

The issue is causing concern in the farming community, but excitement among some conservationists.

One researcher from the Flemish Institute for Nature and Forest Research,Jan Gouwy, confirmed that around 15 to 20 wolves are currently living in the country. One pack is in Flanders, another is in southern Wallonia, and a newly settled pair has been sighted recently.

According to legend, King Leopold II shot the last wolf in Belgium in the 1890s, but they have now returned.

The return is being blamed on a changed law banning the deliberate capture or killing of a wolf.

While wolves primarily eat deer and wild boar, they also consume livestock.

Sheep farmers in Belgium say that hundreds of sheep have been killed and call for stricter regulation. dom to make road decisions, generosity, and the absence of corruption.

While some are calling for stronger measures against wolves, others believe that it's possible to coexist with them.

As highlighted by the report, the perception of the planet’s inhabitants about their lives continues to be ‘remarkably resilient’ despite having gone through a pandemic for three long years.

During this time, the report found that what had been most influential in keeping people’s spirits high has been the ‘pro­social’ acts and support that people had given each other, which was much higher than in previous reports

Finland is the least densely populated country in the Euro­ pean Union, one which usually stands out for its powerful public welfare system and its low corruption rates. It continues to lead the happiest countries in the world, followed by Denmark, and Iceland, both also with high rates of equality and vital evaluation of the respondents.

The Nordic countries ­ with the exception of Sweden ­ managed to maintain lower death rates from Covid­19 thanks to the rapid and effective measures adopted, which was considered highly relevant.

The World Happiness Report has been published every March 20 for the last 10 years.