Spain: Forest Fire Threatens Wolf Population
A catastrophic forest fire in Spain is threatening the already endangered wolf population. Animal welfare organizations are raising the alarm.
The Spanish government has declared the Sierra de la Culebra mountain range in the province of Zamora a disaster zone after a fire destroyed 30,000 hectares of forest, endangering the future of the local wolf population.
With this decision, the region of Castilla y León gains immediate access to €2 million in economic reconstruction funds to address the damage caused by the worst fire in a decade, which has destroyed a large part of the 600 km² biosphere reserve in northwestern Spain.
The fire broke out a week ago and spread rapidly, fanned by strong winds and unusually high temperatures. More than 650 firefighters from across Spain fought with the help of aircraft and helicopters to contain the blaze before it was finally brought under control on Sunday.
«The main problem now is soil erosion caused by wind and rain«, says Luis Suárez. «It is of fundamental importance that we stabilize the soil and restore the area in a way that makes it more resilient to fires in the future, which includes sustainable activities such as traditional livestock grazing and responsible forest management.«
In addition to the loss of around 25,000 hectares of forest, there are also fears for the future of the local wolf population, one of the largest in Spain. It is assumed that the adult wolves escaped the flames, but the cubs were only a few weeks old and may not have survived.
«Female wolves normally give birth to their young in mid-May, so they are not yet very mobile«, said Suárez. «It is very unlikely that the females would have been able to move all the cubs out of the dens, but it is still too early to say with any certainty.«
The area is believed to have been home to 10 wolf packs, each occupying its own large territory, much of which has now been destroyed.
Zamora is regarded as a model for coexistence between farmers and wolves. A ban on hunting the animals in northwestern Spain, where most packs live, was only enacted last month despite resistance from right-wing legislators.
Spain has around 300 packs of up to eight wolves each – the largest population in Western Europe.
The Sierra is also home to large populations of deer, wild boar, wildcats, river otters, and golden eagles. Observation towers have been built, offering visitors the rare opportunity to watch wolves in the wild.
