Mammals of Spain

Mammals of Spain. Spain is home to a diverse range of mammal species, many of which are endemic to the Iberian Peninsula. From the majestic Iberian lynx to the elusive European wildcat, Spain boasts a rich variety of carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores. The country’s varied geography and climate have given rise to different mammalian ecosystems, such as the Pyrenees mountain range in the north and the Mediterranean forests and grasslands in the south. Despite threats such as habitat loss and climate change, many of Spain’s mammal populations are thriving, and efforts are being made to protect them for future generations.

Spain is also home to a diverse array of marine mammals, thanks to its long coastline and position at the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Some of the most notable marine mammals found in Spanish waters include the common dolphin, the bottlenose dolphin, and the long-finned pilot whale. Spain is also home to the Mediterranean monk seal, one of the world’s most endangered marine mammals, and several species of whales and porpoises, such as the fin whale, the sperm whale, and the harbour porpoise. These marine mammals are essential components of Spain’s marine ecosystems, playing important roles in maintaining the health and balance of the ocean’s food chains. However, like many other marine mammals around the world, they face threats from human activities such as fishing, pollution, and climate change.

Iberian Wolf (Canis lupus signatus) Lobo Ibérico

by
The best place to see wolves in Spain is in the rolling hills of the Sierra de la Culebra.
  • Spanish: Lobo
  • Catalan: Llop

The Iberian wolf, Canis Lupus, has suffered much persecution over the centuries. Already being eradicated from many countries and, despite a bounty on every head of a wolf during the 1950’s and 60’s. Some small populations of these mammals survived and now receive a partial protection especially when they reside in protected (natural and national park) areas of Spain. (A hunting ban came into force in 2021)

Recent Legislative Changes: Reversal of the 2021 Hunting Ban

In March 2025, the Spanish parliament passed a law targeting “food production waste”, which included an amendment to lift the 2021 ban on wolf hunting north of the Duero River. This decision allows controlled hunting to resume in regions like Asturias, Cantabria, Galicia, and northern Castilla y León, where most of Spain’s Iberian wolves reside. The amendment was supported by parties such as the People’s Party (PP), Vox, Junts, and the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV). Read more here.

Read about the 2021 hunting ban of the Iberian wolf over at the Iberia Nature Forum: https://iberianatureforum.com/forums/topic/iberian-wolf-hunting-ban/ Feel free to join in with the topics there! 🙂

Iberian wolf populations are mainly in scattered packs in the forests and plains of north-western Spain whilst the north of Portugal also holds small numbers.

The Junta de Andalucia declared the wolf extinct in Andalucia (the Sierra Morena) in 2023. Read more here.

A few details about the Iberian wolf

The Iberian wolf can reach a height of around 70cm and length of 120cm. The animal is different in colour from the Eurasian wolf by having dark markings on its forelegs, back and tail with white markings on its upper lips. This is the reason for the last part of the scientific name, with signatus meaning “marked”. Males weigh around 40kg with females being of a finer / slimmer build.

Read more

Why Spain’s Iberian Lynx Rewilding Success Is Now Under Threat

by
To date, 238 specimens of Iberian lynx have been born in the breeding centres of El Acebuche and Zarza de Granadilla with 150 released in different areas of the Iberian Peninsula.
Introduction: The Iberian Lynx Recovery at Risk

The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) was once the world’s most endangered wild cat, reduced to fewer than 100 individuals in the early 2000s. Thanks to over two decades of conservation work, including habitat restoration and captive breeding, the population has grown to more than 2,000 across Spain and Portugal.

Listen to the podcast about “Why Spain’s Iberian Lynx Rewilding Success Is Now Under Threat”

However, this remarkable recovery is now under threat. Farmers and hunting groups are pressuring regional governments to block further lynx reintroductions, risking decades of progress.

Why Are Farmers and Hunters Opposing the Iberian Lynx?

Read more

European bison – Bison bonasus – Bisonte europeo

by
European bison - Bison bonasus - Bisonte europeo

The European bison – Bison bonasus – Bisonte europeo is also known as the wisent is one of two extant species of bison, alongside the American bison. The European bison is the heaviest wild land animal in Europe and individuals in the past may have been even larger than modern animals.

Read more

Three Iberian Lynx Killed in October on Andalusian Roads

by
Iberian lynx Mammals of Spain - Reintroducion of Iberian lynx. Wildlife, natural parks and culture in Spain

Three Iberian lynx have been killed on Andalusian roads in just five days (at the end of September and the first week of October.) These incidents have once again highlighted the ongoing threat posed by vehicles, as wildlife campaigners demand more be done to protect the species. Animal rights groups call for urgent action from the Andalusian government to protect these vulnerable cats.

Read more