Two Iberian wolves, a protected animal, were found dead today in the municipalities of Montalegre and Arcos de Valdevez, with the Public Ministry investigating, the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF) told Lusa.
In a written response, the ICNF “confirms that it was informed this Thursday of the existence of two Iberian wolf corpses in the northern region, one in the Montalegre area [distrito de Vila Real] and another in the area of Arcos de Valdevez [distrito de Viana do Castelo]”.
“The circumstances in which the deaths of the two animals occurred are still to be determined. However, there does not appear to be any relationship between them”, says the ICNF.
A source from the GNR in Vila Real told Lusa that soldiers from the Nature and Environment Protection Service (SEPNA) in Chaves “collected a carcass” of an Iberian wolf, at 1:00 pm today, in the parish of Negrões, in the municipality of Montalegre , adding that the animal was transported to the National Veterinary Institute, in Vila do Conde.
A police source revealed to Lusa that the Iberian wolf found in the municipality of Montalegre “was shot dead”.
“Upon learning of the two corpses, the ICNF immediately activated the protocol established under the Dead Wolves Monitoring System, which involves this institute, the GNR, the Public Ministry and the National Institute of Agrarian and Veterinary Research (INIAV). “, explains the ICNF.
This body adds that, within the scope of its powers, the teams from the Nature and Environment Protection Service (SEPNA/GNR) and the Nature Watchers (ICNF) present on the ground “triggered a series of investigation procedures, as well as the collection of corpses, which were delivered to the INIAV for necropsy”.
“The file of occurrences to be delivered to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, in the Montalegre and Arcos de Valdevez Districts was also prepared”, says the ICNF.
The Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF) recalls that in Portugal, “the Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) has been, since 1989, a strictly protected species, either by means of European legislation (Berne Convention and Habitats Directive ), or by means of national legislation (Law nº90/88, of April 27th and Decree-Law nº54/2016, of August 25th)”.