'Historic' wolf litter born in Catalonia for first time in a century

For the first time in 100 years, a wolf litter has been born in Catalonia.

The interior ministry, through the Rural Agents, confirmed that three wolf pups were born this year somewhere within a large area stretching between Alta Garrotxa and Alt Empordà, where two adult wolves had previously been spotted.

The ministry described the event as "historic," marking the successful reproduction of a species that had disappeared from Catalonia until about 25 years ago, when a lone wolf was spotted in Cadí-Moixeró Park.

Under current regulations, the birth of these pups automatically reclassifies the wolf from an extinct reproductive species in Catalonia to an endangered species at risk of extinction.

Extinct to endangered 

Gabriel Lampreave, coordinator of the brown bear and wolf monitoring tasks within Catalonia's Rural Agents, told the Catalan News Agency (ACN) that up until now, the wolf was considered an "extinct reproductive species" in Catalonia.

With the birth of this litter, it now becomes a "reproductive species, and therefore protected and threatened," a status change that, he notes, "changes things."

This new status requires the drafting, processing, and approval of a species recovery plan, in line with European regulations.

In a statement, the Catalan government specified that all future measures will be coordinated with the Wolf Working Group, and the relevant departments: Interior and Public Safety; Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition; and Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food.

Lampreave explained that after 25 years of observing lone male wolves in Catalonia, this is the first litter in a century.

He emphasized that careful monitoring allowed the birth to be identified quickly.

"Now it's everyone’s job to make sure farms can continue their activity with the least possible impact," he added.

It is not yet known whether any of the three pups are female, which could strengthen the population in coming years.

Farmers demand control measures

The news of a first wolf litter in 100 years in Catalonia has been met with concern by Catalan farmers. 

Farmers stress that the recovery of the species "is not all roses" and are calling for control measures to prevent wolves from becoming a problem.

Members of the Farmers' Union (Unió de Pagesos) and Farmers' Guild (Gremi de la Pagesia) note that currently compensation is only considered if a wolf kills livestock, and they believe a protocol should be established to set a maximum density for wolves in Catalonia.

"If wolves are reintroduced, we need to be prepared and have protocols, because if in 10 years their numbers have multiplied, what will we do?" said Josep Vall-llosera of the Farmers' Guild.