Hunting Iberian ibex: from a threat factor to a conservation tool

Abstract In this study we have compiled the information from official databases about Iberian ibex, Capra pyrenaica , hunting yields, hunting trophies and hunting licenses in the Spanish regions where the species is present and hunted. Such quotas showed an increasing trend between 2005–2021 and, on average, during this period, ≈ 6400 animals were yearly harvested. Despite this number decreased in 2019 and 2020 (in this last year, mainly due to the lock down caused by the COVID pandemia), the annual quota raised, reaching over 12,000 ibexes in 2021. The number of trophies increased since the 1970s and peaked in the period 2001–2005, and then declined during the period 2006–2020. At national level, the number of hunting licenses decreased from 2006 to 2021 by a 36.5%. The regional average hunting yield was significantly correlated with a regional-based ibex abundance estimation. The current situation of continued population increase together with the trophy reduction might suggest that the overall population is exceeding the carrying capacity. In this context, if hunting activity was one of the main factors involved in local extinction of the species, currently it should be considered a tool for sustainable managing of ibex populations in an scenario of increasing demographic trends and generalized absence of predators.

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Publication Details

Journal
European Journal of Wildlife Research
Published
2025-02-20
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-025-01905-8
Primary Topic
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Hunting Iberian ibex: from a threat factor to a conservation tool

Alberto Fernández‐Arias, José Enrique Granados, Alberto Gil‐Carrera, Josep M. López-Martín et al.
European Journal of Wildlife Research
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
article

Hunting Iberian ibex: from a threat factor to a conservation tool

Alberto Fernández‐Arias, José Enrique Granados, Alberto Gil‐Carrera, Josep M. López-Martín, Pelayo Acevedo, Antonio J. López‐Montoya, Francisco Carro, Paulino Fandós, Pablo A. Refoyo, Xavier Olivé-Boix, Ramón C. Soriguer, José Javier Serrano Lara, Juan Carlos Peral, J.J. Serrano Domingo, María J. Fernández-Muñoz, Maria J. Vargas-Brochero, Jesús M. Pérez, José A. Martínez, Montserrat López Rubio, María J. Modesto, Fabiola Mesa-Pérez, Enrique Barreñada
article en

Abstract

Abstract In this study we have compiled the information from official databases about Iberian ibex, Capra pyrenaica , hunting yields, hunting trophies and hunting licenses in the Spanish regions where the species is present and hunted. Such quotas showed an increasing trend between 2005–2021 and, on average, during this period, ≈ 6400 animals were yearly harvested. Despite this number decreased in 2019 and 2020 (in this last year, mainly due to the lock down caused by the COVID pandemia), the annual quota raised, reaching over 12,000 ibexes in 2021. The number of trophies increased since the 1970s and peaked in the period 2001–2005, and then declined during the period 2006–2020. At national level, the number of hunting licenses decreased from 2006 to 2021 by a 36.5%. The regional average hunting yield was significantly correlated with a regional-based ibex abundance estimation. The current situation of continued population increase together with the trophy reduction might suggest that the overall population is exceeding the carrying capacity. In this context, if hunting activity was one of the main factors involved in local extinction of the species, currently it should be considered a tool for sustainable managing of ibex populations in an scenario of increasing demographic trends and generalized absence of predators.

European Journal of Wildlife ResearchVol. 71(2)
Universidad Complutense de Madrid (ES), Generalitat de Catalunya (ES), Universidad de Granada (ES), Universidad de Jaén (ES), Generalitat Valenciana (ES), Estación Biológica de Doñana (ES), Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (ES), Consejería de Agricultura, Pesca, Agua y Desarrollo Rural (ES), Junta de Castilla y León (ES), Gobierno de Aragón (ES), Comunidad de Madrid (ES), AstraZeneca (Spain) (ES), Hospital Universitari de Tortosa Verge de la Cinta (ES), Universidad de León (ES), Rio Tinto (Australia) (AU)
Universidad de Jaén, Junta de Andalucía
Openalex Percentile: Top 97%
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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