This April, we turn our focus to the Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) a unique subspecies found only in Spain and Portugal, and one of Western Europe’s most important apex predators.

Today, the Iberian wolf stands at a delicate crossroads. Across the Iberian Peninsula, there are an estimated 2,000–2,500 individuals, distributed in more than 300 packs, with the majority concentrated in northwestern Spain.  Yet this apparent recovery hides a more fragile reality. In Portugal, the species is officially classified as Endangered, with only a few hundred individuals remaining. Small, isolated groups are at risk of disappearing due to fragmentation and lack of connectivity. 

Historically, Iberian wolves were widespread across the peninsula, but persecution, habitat loss, and declining prey populations caused dramatic declines throughout the 20th century. Although legal protection has allowed some populations to recover, their overall conservation status is still considered unfavourable, and long-term stability is far from guaranteed. 

Despite these challenges, the Iberian wolf remains a cornerstone of healthy ecosystems. As a keystone predator, it regulates populations of herbivores such as deer and wild boar, preventing overgrazing and allowing forests and vegetation to regenerate. This ecological process, known as a trophic cascade, supports biodiversity at every level, from plants to birds to insects. Wolves also tend to remove weaker or diseased animals, helping maintain healthier prey populations and reducing the spread of disease in the wild. In this way, the presence of wolves shapes entire landscapes. Where wolves thrive, ecosystems become more balanced, resilient, and self-sustaining.