The animal became the subject of countless discussions, and although these discussions are still ongoing, the wolf has since become increasingly established in the Netherlands. Slowly, we are starting to get used to the idea that this magnificent predator has returned to its original habitat.
The Veluwe
he wolf has settled in the Veluwe, among other places. That the wolf has chosen the Veluwe as its habitat is a great compliment. The animal finds peace, space and plenty of food in the form of wildlife there. Staatsbosbeheer indicates that the wolf is welcome in the Veluwe and plays a positive role in nature and in the ecosystem.
Restoring natural balance
Wolves play a crucial role in regulating wildlife populations, such as deer and roe deer. By controlling wildlife, wolves prevent overgrazing and help keep vegetation healthy, which in turn benefits other animals and plants. Thus, wolves can indirectly increase biodiversity.
Measures
But the return of the wolf also has a downside. Many farmers have been experiencing nuisance for ages, as wolves bite their animals to death. Therefore, Staatsbosbeer has taken several measures to protect their sheep herd in Hoog Buurlo. Thus, they state: "Since the arrival of the wolf, we have been making every effort to avoid conflicts between the wolf and our sheep herd. We do this first of all by keeping our sheep safely overnight in the stables if we can. If they spend the night on the moors, we deploy special wolf-proof fencing to provide the sheep with a safe shelter. In addition to the fencing, we also deploy three flock protection dogs".
Herd protection dogs
Herd protection dogs have an important role within the flock and are with the sheep day and night. Currently, two dogs live to protect the sheep herd at Hoog Buurlo. They are Carpathian Shepherd Dogs from Romania; Nora and Ravi are their names. Herd protection dogs are a very effective way of keeping wolves at bay. A wolf will not risk getting hurt because it wants to protect its pack, this keeps the wolf at bay.
Visitors
For all visitors, but especially visitors with dogs, it is important to give the herding protection dogs plenty of space at all times. The dogs are at work and cannot be petted. Keep your distance from the herding protection dogs and make sure the pet dog is on a short leash with its owner. If the herding protection dogs bark, walk on and give them more space. Always follow the shepherd's instructions.
Feed from Yarrah
At Yarrah, our commitment goes beyond our beloved pets, we are also very involved with the planet we live on. The arrival of the wolf fulfils a very positive role for nature and the ecosystem, which we certainly embrace. For several years, we have therefore been sponsoring all the feed for the herding dogs and flock protection dogs; Nora and Ravi who live with the sheep herd at Hoog Buurlo. They deserve the very best; organic dog food with only pure ingredients. The dogs make it possible to continue the traditional method of sheep grazing to maintain the moors. In this way, there is a place for everyone in nature; the woods, the moors, the wildlife, the sheep and the wolves.
At Yarrah, we are always concerned with sustainability. That's why we took a close look at our packaging and use of materials over the past year. What did we find out? We have already made considerable strides, but there is always room for improvement!
From Everything in Packaging
Our products come in all kinds of packaging: cans, bags, alu tubs, you name it! That's a lot of different materials. We try to reuse as much of the material we get in our warehouse as possible. But pallets have to be packed properly when transported. Packaging films are unfortunately not reusable and go to a nearby recycling plant.
Plastic Use and Recycling
In 2022, we used 5,138 kg of LDPE plastic. Furthermore, we used 2,090 kg of aluminium-coated plastic for cat food bags. These bags are convenient to use, but unfortunately not so easy to recycle because of that aluminium coating.
We used 1,054 kg of bio-based plastic (bio-polyethylene) to package several of our snacks. Bio-polyethylene is made from renewable resources such as sugar cane, sugar beet and wheat grains. This can be fully recycled.
Green Progress
Good news! Our organic dry kibble is now in mono-PE plastic packaging. Provided they are disposed of properly, fully recyclable which saves a lot of waste! We have also started using bio-polyethylene for snack packaging. Made from renewable resources and recyclable, a win-win situation!
Future Goals
We are far from finished. Our goal for 2025? An 80% reduction in the carbon footprint of our ingredients, FSC certification for all our paper and board, and a big increase in the use of recycled plastic. This should result in a 50% reduction in total plastic consumption compared to 2022.
Conclusion
At Yarrah, we are committed to a greener world, for people and animals. With honest evaluation, smart initiatives and ambitious goals, we want to lead the pet food industry towards a more sustainable future. Together, we are making a difference!
