Mammals of Spain Archives - Page 4 of 9 - Wildlife & Walking Tours in Spain

Female Iberian Lynx’s Historic Settlement in Cabañeros National Park

September 4, 2023 by clive

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

A female Iberian lynx named “Sibila” has chosen to call Cabañeros National Park home since last May. This makes her the first to inhabit this protected area in the province of Ciudad Real.

The director of Cabañeros National Park, Ángel Gómez Manzaneque, explained that their efforts to establish a stable population of Iberian lynx over the years are starting to show promising results.

clive

Clive Muir – Wildside Holidays – Walking, wildlife and culture holidays in Spain

I’ve been living in western Andalucía for more than 20 years and spend much of my time researching and running English-language travel websites about Spain. My work covers destinations including Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema and the Caminito del Rey, as well as Wildside Holidays, which focuses on walking, wildlife and nature travel in Spain.

Through Wildside Holidays, I share practical information about Spain’s natural parks, mountains, wildlife and walking destinations, drawing on many years of living and travelling in the country. The aim is to help visitors discover Spain’s natural landscapes responsibly and plan rewarding walking and wildlife experiences.

Reviving Rivers: The Remarkable Return of European Beavers to the Iberian Peninsula

September 2, 2023 by clive

Reviving Rivers: The Remarkable Return of Eurasian Beavers to the Iberian Peninsula

European beavers – Castor fiber – El castor europeo, have a fascinating history in the Iberian Peninsula, where the species was documented until the late 16th century before becoming extinct due to over hunting and persecution for its meat and fur.

In 2003, unauthorized beaver reintroductions occurred in the Ebro river basin in Spain. These beavers, protected since 2011, have since expanded into new areas, including the Douro and Tagus basins. Recently, there have been sightings of beavers in the Tormes river, near the Portuguese border, suggesting a potential return to Portugal after extinction in the Middle Ages.

clive

Clive Muir – Wildside Holidays – Walking, wildlife and culture holidays in Spain

Hybrid rabbits in Spain

July 6, 2023 by clive

Farmers in Spain are protesting against the “hybrid rabbit”, a cross between domestic and wild rabbit species, which they claim is devastating crops and displacing native rabbits and hares. Protesters accuse the government of deliberately releasing the animal to repopulate endangered species, which has caused harm to the native rabbit and hare populations. The hybrids are larger, more voracious, have more offspring per litter and double the number of litters per year. Farmers have demanded a temporary hunting emergency declaration, a study to clarify when and how the rabbit appeared, and a ban on releasing domestic rabbits into populations of native rabbits. But before we get to the invasive hybrid rabbits in Spain lets have a look at the endemic ones!

clive

Clive Muir – Wildside Holidays – Walking, wildlife and culture holidays in Spain

Rats in Spain

March 8, 2023 by clive

Contrary to popular beliefs, myths legends and downright non truths, there are only two species of rats in Spain. The black rat (Rattus rattus) and the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus). In Spain, there is no such thing as a house rat, water rat, sewer rat, tree rat, olive rat, golf-course rat or mountain rat. Its … Read more

The Caminito del Rey