The Iberian desman or Galemys pyrenaicus is an animal of prehistoric origin that has inhabited our planet for 15 million years, similar to the mole and with a life expectancy of three to five years. Its appearance is quite curious: it measures about 15 centimeters and its rounded body highlights a small flattened trunk in front and a thick and scaly tail in the back. He lacks ears and also has very small eyes, difficult to find among his grayish-brown hair. These characteristics, together with the size of its hind legs (notably larger than the front ones) make it an unmistakable animal, although difficult to see due to its mainly nocturnal habits.

The scarcity of excesses in the Iberian Peninsula makes it even more difficult to find. Disappeared in five communities, it is listed as endangered in the Central System area and as vulnerable in the Cantabrian Mountains, the Pyrenees and Galicia. Although the total number of specimens is not known with certainty, it is known that it has suffered a regression of approximately 30% in the last 20 years. This progressive disappearance has several causes, but the most important is the abuse of water withdrawals, making the quality and flow of the streams insufficient for this species. On the other hand, desman populations are isolated, which makes them more sensitive to any type of threat and, at the same time, makes it difficult for them to adapt and reproduce.

With the aim of reversing the decline in Iberian desman populations, as well as increasing existing knowledge of the species and improving the conservation of its environment; the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment, coordinates and carries out activities within the framework of the LIFE+ Desmania project together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, the Regional Government of Castilla y León, the Regional Government of Extremadura, the Cesefor Foundation, the Natural Heritage Foundation of Castilla y León and SOMACYL.

One of the most recent and relevant results that this project has brought is the discovery of an important population stronghold at the headwaters of the Tormes River in Salamanca after two decades in which it had been considered missing in the area.

The conservation of the Iberian desman is key to Spanish biodiversity as it is an endemic mammal of the peninsula. In addition, this species is an indicator of the purity and quality of the water since it only settles in streams with a constant flow of clean and unpolluted water. That’s where it finds its main food source, aquatic insect larvae.