Wolf

Iberian Wolf Hunting Regulations in Spain: Spain Lifts Wolf Hunting Ban North of the Duero

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The best place to see wolves in Spain is in the rolling hills of the Sierra de la Culebra.

The management of Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) populations in Spain has always been a subject of ongoing debate, balancing conservation efforts with the interests of livestock farmers. Recent legislative changes have further complicated this issue, particularly concerning hunting regulations north and south of the Duero River.

Read more about the Iberian wolf here.

Historical Context of Wolf Hunting in Spain

Historically, the Iberian wolf has faced significant persecution, leading to its eradication in several regions. By the mid-20th century, bounties were placed on wolves, drastically reducing their numbers. However, small populations survived, primarily in northwestern Spain and northern Portugal.

Wildmoral wolf tours
Iberian Wolf Hunting Regulations in Spain. In 2021, Spain granted Iberian wolves north of the Duero River protected status, expanding a pre-existing hunting prohibition in the south. This move was met with strong opposition from farmers, who warned it would result in increased attacks on livestock.

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Iberian Wolf (Canis lupus signatus) Lobo Ibérico

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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.

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Is The The Wolf is Extinct in Andalusia?

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The best place to see wolves in Spain is in the rolling hills of the Sierra de la Culebra.

The 2023 wolf population monitoring surveys published by the Andalusian government conclude that the Iberian wolf is extinct across the entire region. This is the first time the extinction of this iconic species, once a symbol of Andalusia’s mountains, has been officially acknowledged, though it may have been gone for years.

The wolf (Canis lupus signatus) has historically been one of the most representative species of Andalusia’s mountain ranges. However, according to the Wolf Monitoring and Conservation Programme carried out by the Ministry of the Environment of the Andalusian Government, it has been confirmed extinct since 2020.

Conservation Efforts and the Decline of the Wolf

Since 2003, the primary aim of the programme was to understand the distribution of the Iberian wolf in Andalusia, gather data about its population dynamics, compensate for livestock damages, reduce conflicts with local communities, and, overall, ensure the species’ survival by encouraging its expansion into more favourable and less conflict-prone areas.

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Is The The Wolf is Extinct in Andalusia? Officially Since 2023 (but probably a lot earlier), unfortunately yes.

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The Status and Debate Surrounding Wolves in Southern Spain

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Wildmoral wolf tours

The Iberian wolf, Canis lupus signatus, is a subspecies of the grey wolf endemic to the Iberian Peninsula. It is distinguished by its medium size and dark markings on its tail, forelegs, and shoulders. Once widespread, the Iberian wolf has had a tumultuous history, nearly driven to extinction in the 1970s due to hunting and habitat destruction. However, thanks to protective measures taken by various organizations, the population has stabilized, making the Iberian wolf a symbol of biodiversity in Spain.

Are Wolves Still in Sierra Morena?

One of the most frequently asked questions is whether wolves still live in the Sierra Morena. There have been mixed reports from residents and wildlife enthusiasts alike. Some claim wolves are still present in areas like Andújar, while others argue that the species became extinct in the region by the 1990s.

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