The Western Capercaillie

The Western Capercaillie is distributed throughout the Cantabrian Mountains, extending from the Ancares in Lugo to the most westerly forest areas of Cantabria. At the beginning of the 1980’s, its population was estimated at 1000 specimens. However, the current situation is extremely delicate, and the species has experienced an important and rapid decline in numbers, to the point where there are no more than 500 to 600 specimens in existence today. The species is currently considered to be in complete extinction, or in danger of extinction, in the majority of its habitat areas, and whilst numerous scientific studies have attempted to identify the causes for such a dramatic decrease in numbers, they have not been able to specifically pinpoint the reasons that have led to the perilous situation of the Western Capercaillie, in just a few years.