Pine marten spotted in Brussels for first time since 1999

A pine marten has been discovered in the Brussels region for the first time in 18 years, prompting hope that their population is starting to recover after a widespread cull.

The body of a young male pine marten was found on the Drève de Lorraine in Uccle, on the edge of the Sonian Forest, in early September. Bruxelles Environnement sent the corpse to Inbo, the institute for nature and forest studies, for further analysis.

Inbo biologist Koen Van Den Berge said the pine marten was probably born in March or April this year. According to the autopsy report, it is not certain that the animal was born in the Brussels part of the forest, "but he does not come from far away".

"In the past, these animals were systematically killed and labelled as pests," he said. "It is now forbidden to kill them and several protective measures offer them a greater chance of survival."

However he said their population growth was still very slow. Since 1998, when the last pine marten was seen in the Brussels region, researchers have found just 31 of the species in Flanders.