Wolf safaris divide opinion in Denmark

A Danish tour operator’s wolf-watching excursions are sparking debate over whether they can draw tourists or risk making wolves too comfortable around humans.

For about four years, Søren Brinch of Naturpark Safari has run wolf safaris in the Oksbøl area of southwest Jutland, where private landowners have been permitted to cull wolves that have caused problems. The tours, which use binoculars rather than rifles, are now regularly selling out, DR reports.

Brinch says demand is rising as more people seek raw wilderness experiences. In Sweden, wolf safaris have long been a tourist draw, and Lars Fuglsang, a tourism professor at Roskilde University, sees potential in Denmark if the offering is combined with other wildlife and local involvement.

Yet the idea divides opinion. Ole Pedersen, chair of the pro-wolf group Ulvetid, calls the group’s stance “ambivalent.” While a recent safari with board members followed all rules and could shift public perceptions of wolves—and generate income—he worries that repeated human contact may make wolves too accustomed to people.

Peter Sunde, an ecology professor at Aarhus University, says the risk is manageable if operators follow Environment Agency guidelines, which include keeping at least 500 meters from the animals. Brinch insists he adheres to these rules.

Locals in Oksbøl, where wolves have been present, remain split. Brinch defends the tours: “I like it, and I’m a free person in a free country. Nobody should dictate what I do—least of all out of ignorance. If people have objections, they can join a tour and see for themselves.”