Exploring the Fascinating World of the Wolf

Wolves are remarkably shy and elusive animals, and in European culture there is a deep-rooted negative image of the animal that still resonates today. By embarking on Wolf watching holidays, you can learn more about this beautiful creature and help to spread the word that it needs protecting, respecting and saving.

The negative image is born of the fact that the animals often kill livestock in order to survive, and have even been associated with human death, too. People have had little tolerance of the wolf throughout the years and this, along with the fact that human development has degraded its habitation, has led to a decline in numbers. What people fail to remember is that this creature, as all others, has a role in the great big circle of life. In fact, by keeping the Wild Boar population stable, it actually helps preserve the Capercaillie species.

Protection

Going on Wolf watching holidays helps people understand what these elusive animals are up against. Seeing one in the wild can take one's breath away, and there is little doubt that spending time in their habitat is an exciting and exhilarating experience. While we are all familiar with the haunting howls of this enigmatic creature, actually hearing it for real is indeed very special.

Thankfully, there are many conservation efforts in place today to protect their livelihood, and Wolf watching holidays educate and help promote the animal's importance. In North West Spain, the population thrives due to the ideal habitat - which combines low lying hills and valley with mixed forest and grassland - and the Iberian wolf is making a comeback here. However the animal still needs to be protected and must remain undisturbed, especially when they are raising young. Building of roads and development cause fragmentation and isolate the populations as well as encourage inbreeding. In order to combat these issues, conservation efforts revolve around maintaining a network of corridors that link areas where the animals currently live with areas that would be potentially suitable for their habitation. Underpasses of main roads and railways help reduce mortality and allow the free movement of packs.

Thanks to the likes of conservationists such as Felix Rodriguez de la Fuente (who called for the end of hunting), thankfully, the animal continues to survive. However, hunting still goes on illegally in many areas, so efforts are still needed to ensure complete protection.

Wolves in Spain

Heading to Spain on Wolf watching holidays guarantees a very high chance of sightings. In the north west of the country the Iberian Wolf is regularly seen, along with Otters, Wild Boar and various species of Deer. There are plenty of birds to spot, too, including several wonderful birds of prey. The Iberian Wolf is slighter larger than the more common Eurasian subspecies and has marks on the upper lip. Living in small packs, they are easier to spot.

Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer. If you’re looking for Wolf watching holidays, Naturetrek specialises in expert-led natural history and wildlife tours worldwide. Naturetrek brings over 25 years of experience to Jaguar watching tours in some of the most spectacular regions on Earth.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.