Wildlife

Flamingos Forced to Move

Last year, the vast Fuente de Piedra lagoon near Málaga was home to thousands of pairs of pink flamingos. The migrating birds descend annually on the saltwater wetlands to hatch their chicks, creating one of the largest colonies of the wading birds in Europe. This year however, only a few dozen adults have been spotted in the waters as a long drought has dried up the lagoon forcing the birds to settle elsewhere.

Another national park in southern Spain is also in crisis. The Donana nature reserve of marshes, streams and sand dunes supports a rich ecosystem of flora and fauna. But water over-exploitation and drought are imperilling the wildlife. Controversy has arisen over the use of the wetlands’ water sources to irrigate nearby farms. Farmers in the surrounding Huelva area have been called out for illegally using the lagoons to water their strawberry crops.