National Geographic highlights LIFE WILD WOLF actions to promote wolf conservation
The prestigious National Geographic Portugal magazine highlighted the ongoing commitment of LIFE WILD WOLF project with the conservation of the Iberian wolf, combining various concrete actions such as anti-poaching, promotion of natural prey through habitat restoration, and constructive dialogue with rural communities.
Along with these measures, the enforcement of legislation is crucial to protect the species, emphasizing the example of the Portuguese Court of Vila Real, which found proven the capture and deliberate killing of six wolves in the Peneda-Gerês National Park, in 2018. This case, which involved the collaboration of GNR within the scope of LIFE WILD WOLF, resulted in prison sentences for the individuals involved, becoming one of the first convictions in Portugal for crimes against the Iberian wolf, a truly historic moment in biodiversity protection.
In Portugal, wolves tend to avoid contact with people but continue to be target of persecution, especially due to attacks on livestock – the main source of tension between wolves and rural communities. Part of the solution to this problem involves reducing the attractiveness of livestock as a food source for wolves, through proper protection of domestic animals and increasing the availability of natural prey, mainly roe deer and red deer, the latter playing an important role in the Iberian wolf's diet.
In this sense, actions of LIFE WILD WOLF project in Portugal were highlighted, especially the knowledge enhancement of the current red deer situation in Peneda-Gerês National Park, and habitat improvement for this ungulate, including the removal of exotic species and the restoration of native forests and high-altitude pastures. The goal is to create favourable conditions for the natural expansion of red deer and other wild prey populations, following a strategy that seeks to reduce conflicts and ensure the preservation of a species like the wolf, considered essential for the ecosystem health.
Article on National Geographic Portugal magazine, 15, may 2026, mentioning actions of LIFE WILD WOLF project: A velha valsa de lobos e veados no Gerês
Photo credits: João Ferreira.
For more information: lifewildwolfportugal@gmail.com
