"In the pre-dawn darkness of Sierra de la Culebra, Zamora, Spain, a sudden howl pierces the cold. More join in, until the baying chorus echoes all around. As the sky begins to lighten, their shapes emerge: first the alpha male, and then the rest of the wolf pack, appearing in the twilight where light and darkness merge.
In Europe, this large carnivore was hunted for centuries and almost exterminated, surviving only in inaccessible or sparsely populated areas. Now, thanks to changing attitudes and increased protection, Europe’s wolf population is slowly recovering, and the apex predators are gradually returning to their former territories.
Spain – where Iberian wolves had dwindled to just 200-500 individuals by the 1970s – now has the highest concentration on the continent. As the animals return, however, the age-old conflict between shepherds and wolves has intensified.
For the communities that live and tend animals in proximity to wolves, their return provokes a range of emotions, from fear to euphoria, and conflicts between humans and wolves are quick to resurface. In the pastoral settlements in the hills of northern Spain, shepherds are trying new strategies in an effort to coexist with these large carnivores."
Ofelia de Pablo and Javier Zurita report for the Guardian October 19, 2023.
Advertisement 
