Wolf pack births solidify species return to Catalonia after century

Agents Rurals confirmed the birth of five wolf pups in Catalonia, resulting from the same breeding pair that produced the first pups in the region in over a century.

The animals live in an extensive area spanning Alt Empordà and Alta Garrotxa, which currently hosts the only detected wolf pack in Catalonia. The group now consists of nine members, including two adults, two juveniles born in 2025, and the five pups born this year.

The Generalitat noted that one of the three pups born last year is no longer visible with the pack. Officials believe the animal may have begun the emancipation process or may have disappeared. The other two juveniles, a male and a female, remain with the group and have been identified. These births represent a natural return for a species that vanished from the region in the early 20th century due to human persecution.

Since 2000, wolves have been detected in the region, primarily as solitary individuals arriving from across the Pyrenees. The Departament de Territori, Habitatge i Transició Ecològica is developing a wolf recovery plan for the species, which is currently classified as endangered. The government plans to submit the plan for public information at the start of 2027. To address concerns from livestock farmers regarding attacks on animals, the Departament d’Agricultura will manage compensation claims and provide direct support.

New protection measures will include fencing, guard dogs, and subsidies for self-protection. Agents Rurals will also deploy a specialized unit of 40 agents to monitor wolf expansion and help the species coexist with farming activities.