Facing up to the threat of forest fires
“Seeing our countryside go up in flames has really marked the people of Montanejos.” These were the words of the town mayor Miguel Sandalinas after fire destroyed large swathes of the pine forest in this walkers’ paradise in Castellón province in...
No butts
Hundreds of cigarette butts are dumped each day on almost every busy Mediterranean beach in Spain during the increasingly long tourist season. This equates to hundreds of thousands of polluting remnants discarded by thoughtless smokers. During eight months of the...
Spain’s snakes; part of the natural world
A total of 11 different kinds of snake can be found in Spain, according to the Iberozoa association. The most common of these reptiles in the Mediterranean area is the Montpellier snake, which is the longest in Spain; an adult can measure around two metres. They...
Discover the secrets of the lagoons
Free guided tours are being offered at La Mata-Torrevieja natural park. Described by Torrevieja tourism department as eco-tourism routes, four different walks are being operated in the protected area. ‘Expert guides’ will be on hand to give participants...
Tiny bear cub rescued
A three-month-old Iberian brown bear cub has been rescued in Asturias after it became separated from its mother and two siblings. The regional department for the environment reported that the youngster had first been spotted last Wednesday wandering on its own. Forest...
The speed merchant; Bonelli’s eagle, a Mediterranean bird
It’s the fastest and most agile of the larger species of eagle, explains SEO/BirdLife. With a wingspan of between 1.5m and 1.7m, Bonelli’s eagle’s speed allows it to hunt a wide range of prey, including medium sized birds, as well as rabbits, hares,...
Bears on the up in the Pyrenees
The brown bear population in the Pyrenees continues to grow. A total of 96 individuals were counted in 2024, which is six more than in the previous year, according to Spain’s brown bear foundation (Fundación Oso Pardo – FOP). The FOP reported that 22 cubs...
Spain’s orcas dance to the tunas’ tune
The small population of Iberian orcas (Iberian killer whales) which lives off the coast of Spain is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).Only 37 individuals were counted in 2023. The orca is an intelligent and...
Snake-eating eagle thrives in Spain
The short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus) is one of ‘most interesting and least known raptors that inhabits our country’, according to SEO/BirdLife. They note that it is a ‘considerable size’ (wing span 160-175 cm) and ‘has the...
Saving Europe’s most endangered duck
Murcia region is taking part in the EU LIFE programme to safeguard the future of the marbled teal. According to regional environment councillor, Juan María Vázquez, it is the species of duck which is most in danger of extinction in Europe. A total of 30 marbled teals...
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