Page 7 - NORDIC SAFARI CLUB CHAPTER NEWSLETTER 4TH QUARTER 2021

Spain is perhaps the most popular destination country, interspersed with forests and
for hunters, the Kingdom of Spain has a hunting agricultural land, Spain offers the traveling
heritage that goes back more than 800 years. sportsman a long list of game animals, some of
The kings and their courtiers enjoyed the which are unique to the Iberian Peninsula. It
country’s bountiful wildlife resource with also has the second largest tourism industry in
elaborate hunting rituals and ceremonies long the world, with superb infrastructure and all the

before they sent Columbus to explore the “new amenities any traveler could ask for.
world” in 1492. In the 19th century the right to
hunt devolved from royal prerogative and Spain is perhaps most famous for its several
became associated with landowner rights. Since varieties of wild goats, respectfully regarded as
that time magnificent game reserves and a ibex, by the international hunting community. In
system of national parks, wherein hunting is a the Gredos Mountains, near Madrid, the largest
long established tool in modern game form, the Gredos ibex, is found. Further east,
management, have been created. Today Spain the Beceite ibex inhabits the mountains of
has one of the most progressive and intensive Valencia, and finally, in the coastal mountains of
wildlife management systems in the world, Andalusia, we find the Ronda and Southeastern
producing stable populations and excellent ibex, the two smallest varieties of Spanish ibex.
trophy quality of their native species.
Spain is also home to two subspecies of
Spain is blessed with a mild Mediterranean chamois – the Pyrenean chamois of the
climate and a variety in terrain and ecosystems. Pyrenean mountains, which separate Spain
With mountains in the north, south central, and from France, and the Cantabrian chamois from
west of the country, as well as rich rolling hill the Cantabrian mountains of the north coast.

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