Spain Spends €5M on Cantabrian Capercaillie, 29 of 30 Released Birds Eaten
Castilla y León spent €5.1 million breeding Cantabrian capercaillies. Predators killed 29 of 30 released birds; only 190 remain in the wild.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Cantabrian Capercaillie: Captive Breeding and Relentless Predation
Online headlines claim Castilla y León spent €5 million releasing 30 capercaillies in León, only for predators to eat 29. This isolated fact sparks mockery and fierce criticism. However, the real story is more complex—and expensive.
A Breeding Center, Not an Improvised Release
The €5.1 million did not go toward simply releasing birds into the wild. It funded a captive breeding center in León after a previous attempt in Asturias failed due to the difficulty of reproducing the species in captivity. The center succeeded in breeding—problems arose upon release. Of the 30 birds released, 29 were preyed upon by foxes, raptors, and other predators. A 97% mortality rate raises doubts about the strategy.
190 Individuals and a Species on the Brink
Program defenders point to the severity of the situation: only 190 Cantabrian capercaillies remain across the mountain range. Without intervention, the species would go extinct within years. The case is compared to the Iberian lynx, which started with similar numbers and is now an international success. Breeding capercaillies is difficult—each chick costs approximately €170,000, according to calculations. But high costs and devastating post-release predation reopen the debate on whether funds are well-spent or if it is a "capercaillie scam," as critics call it.
The 2025 Strategy for the Conservation of the Cantabrian Capercaillie, published by MITECO (Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition), includes these figures and projections. The lingering question is whether continued investment is worthwhile when nature insists on reclaiming what escapes it.
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Online headlines claim Castilla y León spent €5 million releasing 30 capercaillies in León, only for predators to eat 29. This isolated fact sparks mockery and fierce criticism. However, the real story is more complex—and expensive.
A Breeding Center, Not an Improvised Release
The €5.1 million did not go toward simply releasing birds into the wild. It funded a captive breeding center in León after a previous attempt in Asturias failed due to the difficulty of reproducing the species in captivity. The center succeeded in breeding—problems arose upon release. Of the 30 birds released, 29 were preyed upon by foxes, raptors, and other predators. A 97% mortality rate raises doubts about the strategy.
190 Individuals and a Species on the Brink
Program defenders point to the severity of the situation: only 190 Cantabrian capercaillies remain across the mountain range. Without intervention, the species would go extinct within years. The case is compared to the Iberian lynx, which started with similar numbers and is now an international success. Breeding capercaillies is difficult—each chick costs approximately €170,000, according to calculations. But high costs and devastating post-release predation reopen the debate on whether funds are well-spent or if it is a "capercaillie scam," as critics call it.
The 2025 Strategy for the Conservation of the Cantabrian Capercaillie, published by MITECO (Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition), includes these figures and projections. The lingering question is whether continued investment is worthwhile when nature insists on reclaiming what escapes it.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (110 replies).
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