Mammals of Spain

Female Iberian Lynx’s Historic Settlement in Cabañeros National Park

by
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.

Read more

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

by
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.

Read more

Hybrid rabbits in Spain

by
The Iberian rabbit

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!

Read more