Wolf pup run over near Görlitz: carcass disappeared without a trace!

Wolf pup run over near Görlitz: carcass disappeared without a trace!

On July 11, 2025, an unfortunate incident occurred on a country road near Königshain: a young wolf was hit by a car and died at the scene of the accident. The death was seen by various sources as a tragic indication of the dangers these animals face on the road. Loud daily news Traffic accidents are the most common cause of wolf death in Saxony.

After the incident, staff from the Lupus Wolf Office secured blood samples for genetic analysis to determine the pup's origins. However, the animal's carcass disappeared from the scene of the accident before a more detailed examination could take place. The Lupus employees were unable to find the carcass just half an hour after the police had taken it away. These genetic studies are part of a nationwide monitoring program carried out at the Senckenberg Center for Wildlife Genetics to gain insights into the wolf population in Germany DBB Wolf explained in detail.

Wolves in Saxony

With 37 wolf packs and six wolf pairs, Saxony has the third most common wolf population in Germany, after Brandenburg and Lower Saxony. Five puppies have already been detected in the Königshain Mountains since spring 2024. These beautiful animals, once widespread across Europe, are currently fighting for their survival and often have to contend with human activities. The increasing traffic density represents a risk for the wolves that should not be underestimated.

The Wolf monitoring recorded a total of 184 packs, 47 wolf pairs and 22 resident individual wolves in 2022/2023. These figures make it clear that the return of wolves to Germany since the 1990s, after their almost complete extinction, is a remarkable success, but at the same time it also requires effective management and monitoring of the animals.

Genetic monitoring and wolf return

Since 2010, central genetic studies have been carried out at the Senckenberg Center as part of wolf monitoring. These not only serve to distinguish individuals and determine relationships, but also to check for hybridization between wolves and domestic dogs. More than 6,000 samples are processed annually, and the results are essential data for managing the wolf population. The genetic analyzes are carried out according to strict scientific standards, which ensures the quality of the results, according to the information on the DBB Wolf.

Overall, despite its return to our forests, the wolf is still a vulnerable guest, leading a difficult existence in the balance between natural habitat and human activities. Incidents such as the tragic accident near Königshain show that there is still a lot of work ahead of us to ensure a safe habitat for these fascinating animals and to promote harmonious coexistence between humans and wolves.