Wild Spain
Spain is one of Europe’s best destinations for watching wildlife. Most of the excitement surrounds three species – the Iberian lynx, the Iberian wolf and the brown bear – but birdwatchers also rave about the twitching possibilities in Spain. Other opportunities include whale-watching off the south coast, especially from Tarifa, and Europe’s only primates, the Barbary macaques, in Gibraltar.
Iberian Lynx
The beautiful lince ibérico (Iberian lynx), one of the most endangered wild cat species on Earth, once inhabited large areas of the peninsula, but numbers fell below 100 at the beginning of the 21st century. A captive-breeding program and the reintroduction of captive-bred lynx into the wild have seen the wild population reach an estimated 320 individuals, with a further 150 in captivity.
The two remaining lynx populations are in Andalucía: the Parque Nacional de Doñana (with around 80 lynxes); and the Sierra Morena (nearly 250) spread across the Guadalmellato (northeast of Córdoba), Guarrizas (northeast of Linares) and Andújar-Cardeña (north of Andújar) regions.
Iberian Wolf
Spain’s population of lobo ibérico (Iberian wolf) has been stable at between 2000 and 2500 for a few years now, up from a low of around 500 in 1970. Though officially protected, wolves are still considered an enemy by many country people and the hunting of wolves is still permitted in some areas. The species is found in small populations across the north, including the Picos de Europa. But Europe’s densest and most easily accessible wild wolf population is in the Sierra de la Culebra, close to Zamora. Riaño, close to León, is another possibility.
Brown Bear
The charismatic oso pardo (brown bear) inhabits the Cordillera Cantábrica (in Cantabria, Asturias and northern Castilla y León) with a further, tiny population in the Pyrenees – close to 250 bears survive, spread across the two populations. The last known native Pyrenean bear died in October 2010. The current population, which is on the rise thanks to intensive conservation measures, is entirely made up of introduced bears from Slovenia and their offspring.
The best place to see brown bears in the wild is the Parque Natural de Somiedo in southwestern Asturias. There is also a small chance of seeing bears in the Picos de Europa. A bear enclosure and breeding facility at Senda del Oso, also in Asturias, is a good chance to get a little closer.
Tour Operators
In addition to numerous local operators, the following outfits run recommended wildlife-watching tours:
Iberian Wildlife (www.iberianwildlife.com)
Julian Sykes Wildlife Holidays (www.juliansykeswildlife.com)
Nature Trek (www.naturetrek.co.uk)
Wild Wolf Experience (www.wildwolfexperience.com)
Wildwatching Spain (www.wildwatchingspain.com)