First Wolf Captured on Video in Andorra's Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley

Andorra's Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock has confirmed the first video footage of a wolf in the Madriu-Perafita-Claror valley, recorded last September by a camera trap during a scientific study on wildcats conducted by an external entity with ministry authorisation.

Researchers only recently examined the recordings and notified authorities, prompting the Banders corps to release the video. Officials describe the detection as a one-off event tied to the wolf's natural expansion across the Pyrenees, with no related incidents reported in Andorra. Sightings have increased in nearby Catalonia and France in recent years.

The ministry frames this within routine fauna monitoring in the valley, which relies on long-term camera deployments for reliable data on species presence. The area now features around 15 fixed camera trap points, bolstered by extended ground patrols from Banders and the Environment Department's Wildlife Unit.

Surveillance coordinates with neighbouring territories under technical protocols. Support for primary sectors includes a regulatory framework for compensating livestock losses from protected species, plus tools such as GPS-equipped collars.

In early May, the ministry launched 30,000 euros in direct grants to fund preventive measures for livestock, farming and beekeeping operations. These cover perimeter fencing, herd control systems and detection equipment, complementing 2024 rules on damages from endangered species.

The wolf, once common in the Pyrenees including Andorra, vanished locally by the early 20th century due to intensive hunting. Current detections reflect natural recolonisation from Italian populations via France and Catalonia, typically involving dispersing individuals seeking new territories.