No species left behind: how Spain saved its animals from wildfire
Spain’s Wildlife Rescue: No Creature Left Behind as Wildfires Rage
Activelifezero.com – While thousands of residents scrambled to escape the devastating wildfires consuming Spain, dedicated personnel at Safari Madrid faced a different kind of challenge. Their mission extended beyond human evacuation—every creature within their care required protection. From towering reptiles to majestic large cats, numerous species found themselves directly in the fire’s path. As the inferno drew nearer to the safari park, dedicated caretaker teams made the critical decision to remain behind, focusing entirely on animal welfare. These devoted individuals guided frightened animals into climate-controlled concrete enclosures, creating safe havens they believed would shield the creatures from approaching flames.
The dramatic scene unfolded as the sky transformed into an orange canvas while thick gray smoke plumes filled the atmosphere. Caretakers simultaneously sprayed water across surrounding areas, creating barriers against the advancing fire. When the wildfires that devastated areas west of Madrid finally subsided, they had scorched through an impressive 131 square miles of terrain. Safari Madrid stood as one of many protective strongholds in a coordinated regional effort to rescue countless animals from farms and wildlife sanctuaries facing destruction.
Community-Wide Animal Evacuation Effort
In San Martin de Valdeiglesias, located approximately 70 kilometers or 43 miles west of Madrid, local authorities demonstrated remarkable ingenuity. According to Mayor Aránzazu Povedano Fraguela, a traditional bullring was transformed into an emergency shelter accommodating horses, ponies, donkeys, goats, cats, and dogs. This creative solution provided refuge for numerous animals whose homes had been threatened by the blaze.
The Spanish Civil Guard mobilized rapidly, posting on Instagram: “We leave no one behind, whatever the species.” Their social media channels shared compelling videos documenting their efforts across the region. Team members could be seen evacuating horses and goats from farms, offering comfort to cows and chickens, and checking on ostriches, camels, and crocodiles. Additional footage captured their rescue of household pets, with the guard noting: “They look so helpless and confused when we evacuate them, they just freeze completely. But they’re another member of the family and even more so in these circumstances.”
Safari Madrid Becomes Emergency Sanctuary
Returning to Safari Madrid, the facility managed approximately 1,000 resident animals while simultaneously accepting evacuees from Kuna Iberica wildlife center, a nearby sanctuary dedicated to rescuing injured or abandoned creatures. As flames advanced, Safari Madrid temporarily housed a Eurasian lynx and Iberian wolf, both requiring anesthesia during transfer, along with four vultures.
Kuna Iberica’s director, Isaac Navarro, explained their strategy: “The evacuation plan was simply to take out everything we could, and everything we could get out, we would get out.” Some animals were relocated to Alfonso X El Sabio University, while birds of prey found refuge at another Madrid-based wildlife rescue center. Navarro reflected: “I had never experienced a situation like this, we had never faced a fire like this, and (the evacuation) was done with all the haste, as best as we could.”
Kuna Iberica staff opened enclosure gates for certain animals to temporarily roam free before gathering them again for overnight care. Since these rescued animals cannot be released into the wild and depend entirely on human caretakers, they remained close to the facility and eagerly returned when conditions improved. The situation proved precarious as flames approached within 10 meters or 32 feet of the facility, yet all animals emerged unharmed according to Navarro.
Aftermath and Recovery
At Safari Madrid, flames eventually reached within 500 meters or 1,640 feet of the park before shifting direction. Park spokesperson Jose Luis Cano Becerro explained their vigilance: “During the day, we examined the land that had been burned … and put out a log that was still burning and could reignite.” Caretakers maintained watch for two nights, feeling secure enough to sleep by the second evening, though always with lingering concern as conditions gradually improved.
All animals survived, though some experienced restlessness from extended confinement. Cano Becerro noted: “Some (animals) got a little agitated. We think it was because they had to stay inside for so long and couldn’t go out, which is not usual in their routine, especially the male Asian elephants who are adolescents and were a bit more restless, but nothing concerning.”
Navarro expressed mixed emotions: “In the end you’re left with the bitter feeling that the whole area, the whole region has been burned, but at least our animals are all safe.” Both facilities have since reopened to visitors, with animals returned to their habitats, though lingering smoke and government vigilance warnings suggest recovery will take time.
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