A wildfire that broke out in Spain's Ávila region on Wednesday has spread rapidly into the Iruelas Valley Nature Reserve, threatening one of Europe's most significant colonies of black vultures.
While officials have yet to assess the full extent of the damage, the mayor of the nearby town of El Tiemblo, Arturo Varas, told Spanish news agency Efe that the reserve had been devastated after flames engulfed it within hours.
The Iruelas Valley, covering 8,828 hectares, lies next to the El Burguillo reservoir and was designated a nature reserve in 1996. A year earlier, another wildfire caused by lightning destroyed around 1,500 hectares of the protected area.
The reserve hosts one of Europe's most important black vulture colonies and is classified as both a Special Protection Area for Birds and a Site of Community Importance.
The area is renowned for its biodiversity, featuring endemic species and extensive woodland formations including holm oak, ash, chestnut and particularly pine forests.
Alongside its black vulture population, the reserve is also home to golden eagles, making it one of Spain's most valued sites for wildlife enthusiasts.
The affected area also includes El Castañar, part of the Natura 2000 network and located within the Iruelas Valley Nature Reserve near the Madrid region.
The site contains a unique 1.34-square-kilometre chestnut forest, including centuries-old trees such as El Abuelo, which has been designated a notable tree due to its exceptional age and size.
Recent studies by Spain's National Research Council (CSIC) indicate the forest is native and dates back approximately 3,000 years, making it one of the country's most valuable and fragile natural habitats.
The reserve attracts thousands of visitors each year and is regarded as one of Spain's most important ecological treasures.
Source: CNA.
