https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Dozens of countries on Tuesday approved downgrading the protection status of the wolf in Europe, a move activists say will upset the recovery made by the species over the past 10 years after near extinction a century ago. https://www.thelocal.es/20241203/europe-set-to-allow-more-wolf-hunting-after-protection-status-lowered Tue, 03 Dec 2024 13:33:52 +0100 europe-set-to-allow-more-wolf-hunting-after-protection-status-lowered Groups of killer whales have rammed hundreds of small boats off the coast of Spain in recent years in "terrifying" behaviour that has baffled scientists. https://www.thelocal.es/20230612/scientists-puzzled-by-killer-whale-boat-attacks-off-spain Mon, 12 Jun 2023 12:08:30 +0200 scientists-puzzled-by-killer-whale-boat-attacks-off-spain Environmental authorities in the Spanish region of Valencia want to limit hiking and ban rockclimbing and canyoning in popular retreats in Alicante, Valencia and Castellón provinces to preserve these natural habitats and their local species. https://www.thelocal.es/20210422/spains-valencia-and-alicante-aim-to-limit-hiking-and-ban-outdoor-sports-in-iconic-nature-spots Thu, 22 Apr 2021 18:56:28 +0200 spains-valencia-and-alicante-aim-to-limit-hiking-and-ban-outdoor-sports-in-iconic-nature-spots Barcelona prosecutors have filed suit against energy giant Endesa for the deaths of hundreds of birds electrocuted by its high-wire power lines, court documents show. https://www.thelocal.es/20210408/energy-giant-sued-as-spain-power-lines-kill-hundreds-of-birds Thu, 08 Apr 2021 13:42:58 +0200 energy-giant-sued-as-spain-power-lines-kill-hundreds-of-birds Two of Spain’s protected brown bears have been shot dead by hunters in separate incidents during wild boar hunts on Sunday, striking a blow to a conservation programme that has seen the population grow from near extinction. https://www.thelocal.es/20201130/spain-conservationists-lament-dark-day-as-two-brown-bears-shot-by-hunters Mon, 30 Nov 2020 18:10:01 +0100 spain-conservationists-lament-dark-day-as-two-brown-bears-shot-by-hunters Spain has temporarily banned sailboats from a stretch of its northwestern coast after several vessels were damaged in attacks by orcas, or killer whales, in recent weeks. https://www.thelocal.es/20200924/spain-bans-sailing-after-spate-of-rogue-killer-whale-attacks-on-boats Thu, 24 Sep 2020 11:51:28 +0200 spain-bans-sailing-after-spate-of-rogue-killer-whale-attacks-on-boats Residents of a small town in the province of Granada in southern Spain have been warned to be on their guard after reports that a large black panther was on the loose. https://www.thelocal.es/20200915/is-there-a-black-panther-prowling-around-a-small-village-in-southern-spain Tue, 15 Sep 2020 18:32:19 +0200 is-there-a-black-panther-prowling-around-a-small-village-in-southern-spain We all want to believe it to be true: That while we are all confined in our homes, creatures are taking back environments too long encroached upon by mankind. https://www.thelocal.es/20200508/is-lockdown-really-bring-spains-sea-creatures-closer-to-shore Fri, 08 May 2020 12:29:32 +0200 is-lockdown-really-bring-spains-sea-creatures-closer-to-shore Their comeback from the brink of extinction has been hailed as one of Europe’s greatest wildlife success stories, but that has been tainted by the news that at least four Iberian lynx have been killed this year through illegal hunting. https://www.thelocal.es/20191004/hunters-kill-four-protected-iberian-lynx-in-central-spain Fri, 04 Oct 2019 14:19:00 +0200 hunters-kill-four-protected-iberian-lynx-in-central-spain Daylight is only just breaking over Spain's Cantabrian Mountains and already a dozen enthusiasts are up and about in the hope of spotting a brown bear. https://www.thelocal.es/20191004/in-northwest-spain-conservation-efforts-pay-off-as-bears-thrive Fri, 04 Oct 2019 11:32:12 +0200 in-northwest-spain-conservation-efforts-pay-off-as-bears-thrive An invasive flatworm that has been accidentally imported from South America is posing a new threat to soil health and wildlife in one of Spain’s most fragile ecosystems. https://www.thelocal.es/20190723/obama-worm-flesh-eating-flatworm-with-hundreds-of-eyes-poses-new-threat-to-spanish-wildlife Tue, 23 Jul 2019 14:27:02 +0200 obama-worm-flesh-eating-flatworm-with-hundreds-of-eyes-poses-new-threat-to-spanish-wildlife An "abnormally predatory" brown bear that has killed horses in the mountains between France and Spain could be removed from the area if he doesn't change his behaviour, Spanish environmental authorities said on Friday. https://www.thelocal.es/20190525/this-horse-killing-bear-is-causing-unease-in-spain-and-france Sat, 25 May 2019 13:37:05 +0200 this-horse-killing-bear-is-causing-unease-in-spain-and-france Spain is home to some of the most varied wildlife in Europe. From the brown bears of the Pyrenees to the cave-dwelling bearded vulture, Spain’s range of topographies allows for a vast assortment of indigenous animals. https://www.thelocal.es/20190506/in-pics-these-are-spains-most-endangered-species Mon, 06 May 2019 18:00:06 +0200 in-pics-these-are-spains-most-endangered-species Environment experts have called for teams of snipers to patrol parks in Spain to rid them of pesky parakeets. https://www.thelocal.es/20181126/snipers-wanted-to-hunt-spains-green-feathered-terror Mon, 26 Nov 2018 17:56:59 +0100 snipers-wanted-to-hunt-spains-green-feathered-terror Goiat, a brown bear aged between 12 and 14, who was transferred to the Spanish Pyrenees from his native Slovenia two years ago, has angered local farmers after committing a killing spree against livestock. https://www.thelocal.es/20180723/brown-bear-with-taste-for-mare-faces-expulsion-from-pyrenees Mon, 23 Jul 2018 13:13:07 +0200 brown-bear-with-taste-for-mare-faces-expulsion-from-pyrenees It has been more than a century since Iberian lynx last roamed the hills and forests of Catalonia. But a photograph snapped by a wildlife officer this proves they have made a comeback. https://www.thelocal.es/20180601/iberian-lynx Fri, 01 Jun 2018 18:35:40 +0200 iberian-lynx Regional authorities in Murcia have launched a campaign to rid the Spanish coast of plastic waste after it emerged a sperm whale found dead on the beach had died from plastic poisoning. https://www.thelocal.es/20180409/clean-seas-campaign-launched-on-spanish-coast-after-sperm-whale-beached-full-of-plastic Mon, 09 Apr 2018 15:12:19 +0200 clean-seas-campaign-launched-on-spanish-coast-after-sperm-whale-beached-full-of-plastic A bear is being blamed for the deaths of an entire flock of sheep which were found at the base of a cliff in the Pyrenees near the border between France and Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20170724/bear-chases-flock-of-209-sheep-off-a-cliff-to-their-death Mon, 24 Jul 2017 12:24:47 +0200 bear-chases-flock-of-209-sheep-off-a-cliff-to-their-death It's a scene straight out of mediaeval times set in modern-day Madrid: an archer dressed in camouflage gear, stationed in a tree at night, waiting for the kill. https://www.thelocal.es/20170103/archers-to-the-rescue-in-madrid-as-boars-trespass Tue, 03 Jan 2017 10:35:53 +0100 archers-to-the-rescue-in-madrid-as-boars-trespass Madrid police made a surprise and rather creepy discovery when they opened a plastic tub left by a park in the suburb of Carabanchel to find 54 enormous hissing cockroaches writhing inside. https://www.thelocal.es/20161215/police-find-lunchbox-crammed-full-of-giant-cockroaches-in-madrid-park Thu, 15 Dec 2016 17:53:13 +0100 police-find-lunchbox-crammed-full-of-giant-cockroaches-in-madrid-park