Iberian Wolves

How do we protect a feared animal?

Tomorrow’s wildlife column continues to bring you the good, the bad and the ugly of Portugal’s natural world. This month, it’s the big bad wolf. That’s right, unbeknownst to most people, wolves still roam freely in the mountains, forests and hills of northern Portugal. Scare stories aside, the Iberian wolf is now in much need of our help and protection.

A wildlife icon and villain of children’s stories, wolves have had a troublesome relationship with humans since the dawn of time. Revered and worshipped by several ancient traditions, wolves feature prominently in legend. One of the best-known claims the two founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, were thrown into the river Tiber as babies only to be rescued and raised by a she-wolf called Lupa.

Wolves have often been associated with courage, loyalty, power, companionship and guardianship, like Akela in Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. The admiration for wolves remains to this day, for example, Portugal’s rugby team is nicknamed “Os Lobos” (The Wolves). Despite the positive symbology, the reality for those who live close to wolves can be very different. People fear the cunning beast that attacks and kills their livestock and threatens their own lives. Popular tales such as Red Riding Hood, Peter and the Wolf, or The Boy Who Cried Wolf depict a more traditional view of mankind towards the wolf – fear.

The Iberian wolf (Canis Lupus Signatus) is a subspecies of the bigger grey wolf found in Asia, Europe and North America, that has evolved in the Iberian Peninsula. Once widespread across the whole region, the last wolf was recorded in the Algarve 52 years ago. The records date from 1972, in Vila do Bispo. Evidence of wolves’ presence in the south of Portugal relies on the names of places such as the prestigious Vale de Lobo (wolf valley) resort and Cerro do Lobo (wolf peak) in the Algarve or Pego do Lobo (wolf jump), a waterfall in Mertola district, Alentejo. Andalusian wolves lived in Spain well into the new millennium and only became officially extinct in this southern region last year. The current Iberian wolf population of around 2,000 animals is now confined to populations in northern regions of Portugal and Spain. On this side of the border, there could be up to 300 wolves living in 50 packs north of River Douro and ten to fifteen isolated packs south of the river.

This elusive canine measures up to 180 centimetres long and can weigh as much as 55 kilos. Their coat varies slightly between individuals and also the time of the year, but it is usually a dark blonde and reddish brown with black markings on the back and some white around the mouth and chest. The striking eyes are golden amber. Its summer coat is thin and makes this wolf quite similar to a domestic dog, whereas a fully grown and healthy winter fur gives it a more wolf-like appearance.

Wolves live in family packs that can reach up to 10 strong and are led by an alpha pair. The other members of the group are usually cubs from the latest litter and youngsters from previous years.

Howling, an effective way of communicating with pack members or rivals, can be heard wherever they live. The eerie sound can travel for several miles.

An apex predator, the wolf sits at the top of the food chain and has little to fear apart from humans. They hunt deer, wild boar, and other smaller animals that are deemed to be worth the hunting effort. Opportunistic animals they will also feed on carrion if that is the easiest meal available. The lack of natural prey is the number one reason why these animals come close to human settlements. Farm livestock is nothing short of irresistible for a hungry wolf who cannot suppress his natural predatory instinct. This is when the interests of wolves and humans conflict. Sadly, for many years, people were allowed to take matters in their own hands, which meant the killing and the consequent disappearance from much of their original habitat.

In 1987, the CRLI – Centro de Recuperação do Lobo Ibérico (Iberian Wolf Conservation Centre) – was created in Mafra, near Lisbon, to rehome wolves that were caught or rescued and could not be safely released back into the wild. This is an enclosed area of 17 hectares that can be visited any time of the year.

Legal protection came in 1988. Law 90/88 clearly states that, in Portugal, the wolf is a protected species and no hunting or capture is allowed. This law also states that the government assumes responsibility for any damage or loss of livestock caused by wolves and assures the rightful compensation.

Together with the protection of the legal system, the key to conservation lies fundamentally in preserving natural habitats, educating local communities, and using specific breeds of dogs to protect villages and livestock. Not only can dogs scare off wolves, but they can also warn farmers of their presence. There are also guidelines for local communities on how to best prevent any attacks, such as keeping livestock indoors at night when wolves are more active. Scientists believe that their nocturnal behaviour was adopted to avoid diurnal human activity.

Wolf Group and LIFE WolFlux via Rewilding Portugal are two separate projects created to protect and promote the ecological and socio-economic conditions required to support viable wolf populations. They are also planning the reintroduction of wolves in selected areas.

Fun Fact

Archeological evidence shows that 30,000 years ago, wolves were domesticated, leading to dogs as we know them. This genetic proximity means that puppies of dogs and wolves can be very, very similar. On more than one occasion, people have been known to rescue and raise puppies only to later find out they have a massive wolf in their house!