Archive for the ‘Asturias’ Category
Summer love
Friday, September 30th, 2011
Lisa over at picosdeeuropa.com has an interesting account of how at least one pair of Cantabrian bears has bred later in the year, in late August, instead of May-June, presumably because of climate change. More here
Hundreds of puffins found dead on Cantabrian coast
Monday, April 25th, 2011More than 200 puffins have been found dead along the coasts of Asturias and Cantabria in the last six weeks. SEO/Birdlife, who are unsure as to the cause, suspect the real figure could be in the thousands. More here
Injured bear found in Asturias
Sunday, April 10th, 2011
Latest from Lisa on an injured bear found in Asturias (includes video).
Fantastic photos of bear cubs
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010
Miradas Cantábricas have published this lovely set of images of a pair of bear cubs they encountered in the Valle del Narcea in Asturias.
Also on bears: El futuro del oso en el Pirineo requiere doblar su población hasta los 40 ejemplares
Deep-water Cantabrian sharks are opportunist hunters
Wednesday, March 24th, 2010
Spanish researchers have studied the diet of three species of sharks which live in the deep waters of El Cachucho, the first Protected Marine Area in Spain, off the coast of Llanes, Asturias. The blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus), the velvet belly lantern shark (Etmopterus spinax), and the birdbeak dogshark (Deania calcea) feed on the resources available in their environment, according to changes taking place in the ocean depths. Their diet is opportunist, because they feed off whatever resources are available, in this case small euphausiid crustaceans, benthopelagic prawns and fish. More here
Documentary about bears
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
Interesting documentary from TVE about bears in the Cordillera Cantábrica with Guillermo Palomero, President of Fundación Oso Pardo. Watch here Wolves in the Picos de Europa
Monday, February 1st, 2010
Lisa has written this well researched article on her excellent Picos de Europa page on the population and status of wolves in the Picos de Europa, the only national park in Spain where they are present:
…an estimate of 5 packs within the park and its immediate surrounding areas. Of these family groups they estimate that each consists of between 5-9 family members, giving a minimum 25 and maximum of 45 individuals, not including the few probable loners. These figures are far below those claimed by local farmers.
Interview with Roberto Hartasánchez
Thursday, January 28th, 2010
Interview with Roberto Hartasánchez, the president of FAPAS on Spanish National radio. An interesting ten minute overview of bears, the serious impact of the disappearance of bees, and the state of conservation of the Cantabrian Mountains in general. Listen here.
European shag in Asturias
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010Interesting video on the European shag in Asturias with English subtitles. Found on the Naturaleza Cantabrica blog, which is well worth a visit.
Contrasting attitudes towards bears
Thursday, November 26th, 2009
Interesting long article on bears in El Pais contrasting the acceptance of bears in Asturias with the general opposition in the Pyrenees. Read
Villarina doing well
Friday, November 20th, 2009
Villarina the bear cub discovered by tourists in Somiedo and later returned to the wild is doing well a year later, having survived last year’s harsh winter without the experince gained from its mother. She is apparentlly healthy, fat and weighing some 50kg. More from Fapas
Latest news from Fapas
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
Fapas have released their latest news bulletin with an interesting selection of news on carrions, vultures and bears. In the picture a bear tucks into a cow. Read
Cantabrian bear groups rejoined
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
Great news from biologists at Oviedo University; they now have positive DNA tested proof that two young bears are the progeny of a female bear from the east and a male from the west. Two hair/faeces samples taken in Redes Natural Park (Asturias) in November last year found two siblings, one male and of one unidentified sex. Another sample taken this spring in the Picos de Europa National Park has confirmed the analysis. More on this soon. Europa Press
- Above map from Wikipedia
Many thanks to Lisa on the forum for letting me know about this news, which is key to guaranteeing genetic diversity for Cantabrian bears, whose twin populations were separated more than 60 years ago.
Increase in brown bear population
Monday, July 27th, 2009
Good news – in part. The population of brown bears in the Cantabrian Mountains continues to grow. According to the latest bear census, a total of 19 female bears raised 37 cubs last year. The census was carried out in Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y León by the Fundación Oso Pardo. However, the situation in the eastern populations of bears straddling Cantabria and Castilla y León continues to be “worrying”. Of the 37 cubs raised, just three cubs were raised in this area. The rest were raised by bears in the far healthier western population. El Mundo
In demonstration of the improved situation of bears in the western area, the World Conservation Union has just reduced the classification of the bears in this area from “Critically endangered” to “Endangered”. La Nueva España
Beehives help wildlife
Saturday, July 4th, 2009
A scientific study by FAPAS has shown that the presence of beehives increases the production of wild bilberries by 80% on which bears and capercaillies feed. Fasas
