- This number does not reach the 500 that scientists consider necessary to ensure the genetic viability of the species in the long term. The increase compared to the previous 2012-2014 census, in which 297 packs were registered, has been 12%
- Castilla y León, Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria are home to most of the national wolf population, while the Basque Country, Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, La Rioja and Extremadura form the expanding territories and have a very small number of packs
- The population and range increase is considered moderate and is observed, especially, at the limit of the eastern and southern distribution area of the species
The administrations responsible for wolf management (the autonomous communities) and the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) have concluded the second coordinated national wolf census in Spain. The total figure is 333 packs throughout Spain, which represents an increase of 12% compared to the previous census (2012-2014), in which 297 packs were registered.
Castilla y León, Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria are home to most of the national wolf population, while the Basque Country, Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, La Rioja and Extremadura form the expanding territories and have a very small number of packs. Population and range increase is considered moderate and is observed especially at the boundary of the species’ eastern and southern range.
Scientists believe that, to ensure the genetic viability of the species in the long term, 500 herds must be reached.
During the period of the coordinated census (2021-2024), the wolf has enjoyed special protection throughout the national territory as it is included in the List of Wild Species under Special Protection Regime (LESRPE), however, after the recent change in the protection status, the autonomous communities that host its main populations will once again authorize its hunting this autumn/winter. For its part, Cantabria has already begun to eliminate specimens for population control in the middle of the breeding season of the species.
METHODOLOGY
The need to know the current situation of the species derives from the existing legal reporting obligations and the need to have updated data for management. In this way, the “Strategy for the conservation and management of the wolf (Canis lupus) and its coexistence with rural activities”, approved in 2022 by the Sectoral Conference on the Environment, recommended updating the national census every six years (at least), coinciding with the preparation of the six-year report, which includes the assessment of the state of conservation and is sent to the European Commission in compliance with article 17 of the Habitats Directive.
The national census has been developed between 2021-2024, through the coordinated methodology agreed upon by the Wolf Working Group, and which allows the comparison of data with those of the 2012-2014 census. The fieldwork has been carried out by the autonomous communities, with regional technical coordination in which technicians and experts in the species participated. MITECO collected the information and carried out the national coordination, with a scientific coordinator.
The result of the national census includes, on the one hand, knowledge about the distribution of the species throughout Spain. To this end, both the area where the species is present, forming breeding herds, and the areas where there is a sporadic presence of dispersing and normally isolated specimens have been verified. On the other hand, the census quantifies the size of the population through the number of breeding flocks in existence.
To estimate the total number of packs, those whose territory is exclusively distributed in a single autonomous community and those found in territories of more than one autonomous community have been considered. In the latter case, a coordination effort has been made to avoid counting the same herd twice.
Thus, for the period 2021-2024, a total of 333 wolf packs have been located in Spain based on the information provided by the autonomous communities. This represents an increase of approximately 12% from 2012-2014. The numerical data is shown below.
No stable herds have been detected in Aragon or Catalonia, despite the sporadic presence of specimens, but without reproduction. In 2024, a breeding flock has been detected for the first time in decades in Extremadura. In general, the number of packs is more expanding on the edges of the species’ stable distribution area, towards the east and southeast, especially in the autonomous limits of Castilla y León, sharing territory with Extremadura, Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, La Rioja and the Basque Country.
These results seem to indicate that the wolf is in a stable situation in Spain, with a moderate growth and expansion in the limits of its distribution, and a stabilization of its numbers in the areas of historical distribution of the species: Galicia, Asturias and Castilla y León. The data from this census will serve to establish whether the conservation status of the species is favourable or unfavourable in accordance with the criteria set by the European Union.
The census period has coincided with a time when the species has enjoyed special protection throughout Spain (included in the List of Wild Species under Special Protection), which has undoubtedly contributed to the population improvement observed. However, the recent regulatory change means that the different autonomous communities have already announced their intention to resume wolf hunting. In the case of Cantabria, at least nine specimens have already been killed, in the breeding season, of the 41 planned in the 2025/2026 season. Asturias has reported that, within the framework of its Management Plan, it will authorize, until March 31, 2026, the extraction of 53 specimens. La Rioja and Galicia have included the species in their closed orders for 2025, without specifying quotas. Castilla y León has stated that it will address wolf hunting once the six-year report is completed, which must be sent to the European Commission on July 31, 2025.
