Wolf attack kills pony in Denmark as expert warns small horses remain at risk

A pony was killed and partially eaten by a wolf in Egtved, Denmark, last week, with wildlife authorities confirming the predator was responsible, DR reports. Experts now warn that small ponies and similar animals face ongoing risks from wolf attacks, particularly in unprotected enclosures.

The victim, a pony named Bellami, belonged to local owner Anna Marie Dahl, who discovered the animal’s remains on her property. “Two-thirds of the pony had been eaten,” Dahl told DR, describing the scene as distressing. “You can’t help but think about how terrified it must have been before it died.”

Authorities from Denmark’s Nature Agency inspected the site and confirmed the attack was carried out by a wolf. “Our professional assessment is that a wolf was responsible,” said Rasmus Jensen, a wolf consultant with the agency. He cited bite marks on the carcass—including the distance between canine teeth and the diameter of puncture wounds—as well as severe throat injuries and partial consumption of the animal. Wolf tracks were also found nearby.

Peter Sunde, a professor of wildlife ecology at Aarhus University and one of Denmark’s leading wolf experts, called such attacks “uncommon but not unprecedented.” Wolves typically target easier prey like sheep, he explained, but will occasionally hunt larger animals—including cattle and horses—if the opportunity arises. “When they do take horses, it’s usually small ones, like ponies,” Sunde said. Unlike sheep attacks, where multiple animals may be killed at once, wolf predation on horses often involves single victims.

Sunde also warned of repeat risks following an initial attack. “There’s actually an increased likelihood of further livestock predation if no protective measures are taken,” he said. “Once a wolf finds an accessible food source, it may return.”

Dahl and her husband currently keep their remaining ponies in a paddock closer to their home but have ruled out installing wolf-proof fencing due to the terrain. “The land here is too uneven—hilly and difficult to fence properly,” she said. Without secure enclosures, she added, “we might have to stop keeping these animals altogether.”

Denmark’s wolf population was estimated at around 42 individuals last year. While attacks on ponies remain rare, Sunde cautioned that similar incidents could occur periodically. “We shouldn’t expect it often,” he said, “but small ponies will likely continue to be vulnerable from time to time.”