A Historic Win As Spain Announces Plans To Ban The Hunting Of Wolves To Protect The Last 1,500-2,000 Remaining In Spain

Animal welfare groups worldwide are elated after Spain announced plans to ban the hunting of wolves.

All wolves in Spain are now listed as protected species, along with the Iberian Lynx and the Cantabrian Brown Bear, after receiving approval from the State Commission for Natural Heritage of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge. Until now, only wolf populations south of the Duero were protected and those to the north were still allowed to be hunted.

The Iberian wolf, also known as the Spanish wolf, is a subspecies of the grey wolf. There are only an estimated 1,500 – 2,000 remaining in the wild in Spain, with 90% living in the northern regions. Thankfully, this ban on hunting will help their species recover.

With this proposal for the inclusion of all Spanish wolf populations on the List of Wild Species under the Special Protection Regime, the opinion of the Scientific Committee that recommended their protection had taken into account their importance as cultural and scientific heritage.

Wolves are a key species that keep diverse ecosystems healthy and intact. Sadly, after the threats to wolves increased in Spain, action needed to be taken to protect them throughout the entire country, ensuring a healthy population and distribution in the long term.

Once the legal status of wolves is resolved, the meeting of the State Commission for Natural Heritage and Biodiversity has proposed the constitution of a working group to develop a new strategy for the conservation of wolves throughout Spain.

The objective of this move will be to achieve the restoration of viable wolf populations as an integral part of the ecosystems in Spain, while ensuring coexistence with humans in the territories in which wolves inhabit.

The proposal now has to be signed off by Environmental Minister Teresa Ribera.

You can help all animals and our planet by choosing compassion on your plate and in your glass. #GoVeg