Every day new ones appear endangered species in the world. For example, in the case of Spain, in recent years more than 150 endangered species have been recorded and the number is continuously increasing. It is very important to become aware and educate others, especially the little ones, about the importance of caring for the biodiversity of our planet. There are many ways to help curb the problem of the acceleration of the disappearance of many of these living things. For example, be active to take care of the environment and report any infraction that we see towards nature.
Next, in Green Ecologist we present you a list of 32 animals in danger of extinction in Spain, with their common and scientific names and with images.
Iberian lynx, one of the main animals in danger of extinction in Spain
The Lynx pardinus or Iberian lynx It is, surely, the best-known endangered animal species in Spain, or at least among the first most recognized. It is the last big cat that inhabits Europe naturally and is the most threatened feline in the world. In the last decade the censuses that have been carried out on this species have counted only around 200 Iberian lynxes, but it seems that in recent years they have begun to recover thanks to various protection and reintroduction programs to nature, reaching to be counted about 500 individuals. They can be found in only two groups of populations, in Doñana and in Sierra Morena.
Currently, the reasons why its population continues to decline and is in critical condition are:
- The destruction of their habitat.
- The decrease in the population of rabbits.
- The abuses on highways and roads.
Black tortoise
The Testudo graeca or black tortoise is a species of which there are 17 subspecies found on three continents: Asia, Europe and Africa.
At a global level, that is, counting on individuals from the three aforementioned continents, the situation of the species is one of vulnerability and not one of danger. Nevertheless, the black tortoise is in danger of extinction in Spain, since there are only approximately 200 individuals, which leaves these turtles in a critical state of risk in this country.
Both the changes that are made in their habitat, as well as invasive species that compete with them and the illegal capture of these turtles, are the main causes of their serious situation.
Mediterranean tortoise
Testudo hermanni It is the scientific name of the Mediterranean tortoise, which is thus known for inhabiting the vegetation of the Mediterranean coasts. This land tortoise, like the one mentioned above, runs a serious risk of disappearing, at least in a state of freedom.
The main main causes of the Mediterranean tortoise is in danger of extinction in Spain are:
- Illegal catch
- Pesticides
- Fires
Although in Spain there are many in captivity, even as a companion animal, in nature they can currently only be seen in the Balearic Islands and in some parts of Catalonia. However, there are already projects to improve the population figures of the species in this country. Without going any further, in 2022 released more than 300 Mediterranean tortoises in the Parc del Garraf, in Catalonia.
Black stork
The black stork, scientifically known as Ciconia nigra, is another species that is at risk in this Iberian country. Nowadays, There are only 330 specimens in SpainTherefore, it is considered in a state of alert before its possible disappearance in the coming years. However, this bird inhabits more places in the world and, luckily, adding its world population, we can say that it is not at risk and, in fact, its status is considered of least concern.
Iberian wolf
Continuing with this list of endangered animals in Spain we stop at one of the best known in the world. Canis lupus signatus it is surely the best known species at serious risk in the Iberian Peninsula, along with the Iberian lynx. The Iberian wolves They have been in the peninsula for centuries, but they came to be considered a plague in Spain that fed on the animals that were part of the herd of shepherds who had no other means of life at that time. For this reason, in the 1970s the government began to eliminate individuals, even to pay rewards to hunters, to regulate the amount that was considered "inordinate". However, with this idea and facility to hunt them down by the laws and by the fear that many people who lived in the areas populated by the species, what has been achieved has been to almost eradicate the Iberian wolf.
Thus, for years there have been attempts to carry out recovery programs to repopulate the peninsula and protect the few that remained. Today, the latest censuses indicate that there are some 2,000 Iberian wolves in Spain. However, against seeking this improvement in the species due to the aforementioned fears that still prevail, wolf hunting in Spain is legal. This is an aspect that causes great controversy in the country, since part of the population considers that it must be rectified as soon as possible.
European brown bear
The European brown bear o Ursus arctos arctos It lives in the Cantabrian Mountains and in the Pyrenees, in areas of beech, oak, birch and black pine forests. Sadly, today there are only around 200 European brown bears in Spain. Specifically, specimens can be found in the Cantabrian Mountains and the Pyrenees, with Autonomous Communities such as Cantabria, Asturias, Castilla y León, and so on.
Is endangered status of the European brown bear It is due both to illegal hunting and the ingestion of poisoned baits, as well as other factors such as mining, the construction of ski resorts and highways, which modify and reduce the habitable space for them.
We tell you much more in this other article about Why the brown bear is in danger of extinction.
Osprey
The bearded vulture it is another endangered animal species in the Iberian Peninsula. The Gypaetus barbatus nowadays he only lives in the Pyrenees and it is estimated that there are less than 300 copies. In addition, the latest censuses have detected that of these almost 300, only 100 specimens are reproductive pairs, which indicates that the trend of their population is to decrease.
Among the causes of his serious risk state we find the following:
- Electrocution in power lines and networks.
- Hunting.
- Destruction of their habitat.
- Ingestion of poisoned baits.
Common chameleon
This small reptile, which is around 30 cm long and has really curious characteristics (such as its coloration, its eyes or its tongue), is in a good state of conservation considering its world population, since it inhabits part of Asia, Africa and Europe.
However the Chamaeleo chamaeleon or common chameleon has about 50 specimens per hectare in Spain and, specifically, they are only found in some pine forests in Malaga, which makes them be on the red list of endangered species in Spain.
Giant lizard from El Hierro
Gallotia simonyi, better known as El Hierro giant lizard, lives on the island of the same name, belonging to the Canary Islands, Spain. In freedom it does not live anywhere else on the planet, in fact it never has, but the worrying thing is that there are currently less than 200 giant lizards on the island of El Hierro in freedom.
Sadly, the main cause of your situation seems to be your illegal hunting and trapping. Luckily, while trying to fight this problem, there is also a recovery and breeding center on the same island, which tries to recover the species.
Iberian imperial eagle
Aquila adalberti The Iberian imperial eagle is another species in a worrying situation. It is an endemic bird of prey of the peninsula, that is, typical of this part of the world, which was already at high risk of extinction during the 60s and, since then, its population has been increased. Thanks to different recovery and conservation projects, today there are some 400 pairs of Iberian imperial eagle, a huge improvement considering there were only about 50 couples in the 1960s.
In any case, there is still an alert about this species, since the number achieved does not really guarantee its conservation if the aforementioned projects are left. Among the causes of its state today we find electrocution, the loss of population of its usual prey, the rabbit, and hunting and persecution by humans.
More animals in danger of extinction in Spain
Apart from 10 endangered animals in Spain that we just mentioned, below we leave the names of another 22 more, although the list, sadly, grows more and more every day.
- Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus)
- Basque whale or glacial right whale (Eubalaena glacialis)
- European minkMustela lutreola)
- Iberian Desman (Galemys pyrenaicus)
- Barbary Ram or Rui (Ammotragus lervia)
- European mouflon (Ovis orientalis mussimon)
- Lesser ShrikeLanius minor)
- Cantabrian grouse (Tetraus urogallus cantabricus)
- Common guillemot (Uria aalge)
- Canarian hubara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae)
- White-headed Malvasia (Oxyura leucocephala)
- Hermit ibis (Geronticus hermit)
- Egyptian vultureNeophron percnopterus)
- Marsh bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)
- Bigeye buzzard bat (Myotis capaccinii)
- Broom hareLepus castroviejoi)
- Snout viper (Vipera latastei)
- Ferreret or Balearic toad (Alytes muletensis)
- Montseny newt (Calotriton arnoldi)
- Red tuna (Thunnus thynnus)
- European crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes)
- Blind crab from Los Jameos (Munidopsis polymorpha)
Next, we show a gallery of images in which you can see the photos of endangered animals in Spain mentioned in this list and in the same order.
If you want to read more articles similar to 32 animals in danger of extinction in SpainWe recommend that you enter our category of Endangered Animals.
