This week we are on the lookout for wolves, one of the most majestic and storied animals on the planet. So where can you go in Europe to see them? Here is our pick of the top European destinations to see wolves in their natural habitat.
Mercantour National Park, France
One of nine national parks in France, Mercantour was created in 1979. The park takes in some of the best scenery that France has to offer, and caters for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Comprising seven valleys and 28 villages, the park is home to all kinds of wildlife. Packs of Italian Wolves roam the park and you can learn about them at the Wolves Centre in Saint-Martin-Vésubie.
Peneda-Geres National Park, Portugal
Peneda-Geres is the only designated national park in Portugal, and was created because of its international scientific interest.
Located in the North West of Portugal, Peneda-Geres covers more than 700-square kilometres of rugged, mountainous terrain. Along with numerous other animals, Peneda-Geres is home to the Grey Wolf.
Sierra de la Culebra, Spain
This mountain range lies in the North West of Spain, and stretches into Portugal. It is one of the last remaining homes of the Iberian Wolf, and is thought to have the highest wolf density in Western Europe.
There have been attempts to reduce the legal protection that the Iberian Wolf enjoys, as farmers claim it is a danger to livestock. However, the wolf remains a protected animal and can be found in healthy numbers in the region.
Alban Hills, Italy
Italy has done a lot for the conservation of wolves, and has seen numbers grow significantly over the past 20 years.
Wolves can be found in a number of places around Italy, but their numbers are growing in the Alban Hills, about 20km (12 miles) from Rome.
(Images: Gunnar Ries, RichardBaker, Silvain de Munck, ajgelado, leosagnotti)
