Why in the News?

As per the regional government, the Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) has been declared extinct in the historical region of Andalusia, located in the southernmost part of Iberia, since the year 2020.

About the Iberian Wolf:

• The Iberian wolf is a subspecies of the Grey wolf, distinguished by its prolonged isolation from other wolf populations for over a century.
• With the largest wolf population in Western Europe, this magnificent species is native to the Iberian Peninsula, encompassing Spain and Portugal.
• Thriving in diverse habitats, Iberian wolves inhabit forests, inland wetlands, shrublands, grasslands, pastures, and mountainous areas.
• These wolves lead a social lifestyle, living, hunting, and traveling in small packs.
• Each pack includes the alpha male and female, along with their young and older offspring.
• The alphas serve as the pack leaders, responsible for establishing territory, selecting den sites, tracking down, and hunting prey.
• Primarily carnivorous, the Iberian wolf's diet comprises various animal species.
• With regard to conservation, the Iberian wolf holds the status of "Vulnerable" according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).