The European country of Spain shares a land border to the west with Portugal and to the north with France. The country has diverse climates, waterfalls, and unusual wildlife. Spain consists of the mainland, the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, and the Canary Islands off the coast of North Africa.
Official National Animal
The bull which is also an important cultural symbol of Spain has become popular due to bullfighting. Every year between July 7th and 14th in the city of Pamplona the most famous event The Running of the Bulls takes place.
Spain has fifteen national parks as well as smaller refuges and reserves:
The Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park is located in Aragon next to the border with France. It is a popular hiking destination.
Here you'll find alpine marmots, wild boars, Pyrenean desmans, Pyrenean chamois, golden eagles, bearded vultures, griffon vultures, and other birds.
The Sierra Nevada National Park in the province of Granada is the largest protected area in Spain.
The animals making their homes here are Spanish ibex, wild boars, martens, badgers, wild cats, common kestrels, eagle owls, and various species of eagles.
The Cabrera Archipelago Maritime-Terrestrial National Park is located on the Balearic Islands.
It is home to many sea birds among them the yellow-legged gulls, the Balearic shearwater, and the Audouin's gulls.
Other wildlife seen here are the kestrels, ospreys, Peregrine falcons, sea turtles, rabbits, and genets.
The Caldera de Taburiente National Park is located in La Palma on the Canary Islands. It is known as an important bird area by BirdLife International.
It is home to laurel pigeons, rebilled choughs, Atlantic canaries, and others.
The Teide National Park includes the highest peak in the Canary Islands.
It is home to spiders, reptiles, insects, and birds.
Among mammals, there are some species of bats, rabbits, feral cats, and a hedgehog.
Native Animals
Iberian ibex are a species of ibex endemic to the Iberian Peninsula.
Brown bears are a large species of bears native to much of Eurasia.
Pyrenean chamois are a subspecies of chamois, a goat-antelope native to much of the European mountain ranges.
European hedgehogs are a species of hedgehogs native to almost all of Europe.
Iberian wolves are a subspecies of gray wolves to the northwestern and southern areas of the Iberian Peninsula.
Alpine marmots are a large species of squirrels native to the mountainous areas of central and southern Europe.
European badgers are a species of mustelids found throughout Europe.
Common genets are a small species of viverrids native to the Iberian Peninsula.
Egyptian mongoose are a species of mongoose native to Egypt but has been introduced and is native to the Iberian Peninsula.
Semi-Aquatic Animals
Hermann's tortoises are a small to medium-sized species of tortoises native to southern Europe.
Eurasian otters are a species of semi-aquatic mammals with a very wide distribution.
Pyrenean desmans are a small species of semi-aquatic mammals native to the northeastern and northwestern parts of the Iberian Peninsula.
Eurasian beavers are a species of beavers found all over Europe.
Marine Animals
Fin whales are a species of cetacean native to all major oceans from polar to tropical waters.
Common dolphins are a species of cetaceans spread throughout the temperate coastlines of the world.
Leatherback sea turtles are the largest species of turtles in the world.
Humpback whales are a large species of baleen whales found throughout the oceans and seas of the world.
Birds
Griffon vultures are a large species of Old World vultures found in southwestern Europe. Spain has the largest colony of griffon vultures in all of Europe.
Common cranes are a species of cranes native to Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Booted eagles are a medium-sized species of birds native to Europe.
Eurasian eagle owls are a species of eagle owls native to most of Eurasia.
Ospreys are a large species of raptors found along the coastlines of the world in almost every continent.
Eurasian spoonbills are a large species of wading birds native to scattered spots across Europe.
Endangered Animals
Iberian lynx
Mediterranean Monk seal
European rabbit
Iberian wolf
Balearic Shearwater a long-winged migratory sea bird constructs a nest on the coastal cliff of the Balearic Islands to breed.
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