Niebla wildfire: five hunts revoked in the burned area after conservationists object

The hunts are off. Andalusia’s regional government, the Junta de Andalucía, has revoked permits for five driven hunts (monterías) planned in the area devastated by the Niebla wildfire (Huelva), according to Ecologistas en Acción, which had asked for them to be cancelled along with other groups.

A record fire

The fire started on 6 August 2026 and burned for several days. It scorched nearly 40,000 hectares, making it the largest wildfire on record in Spain, according to published reports.

Two and a half months later, five hunts had been authorised in that same area. The first, planned for last weekend in Paterna del Campo, included the El Madroñuelo hunting estate; the other four were in neighbouring towns.

Why they were challenged

Paterna Animalista and Ecologistas en Acción-Huelva called the permits “macabre”. Their arguments:

• Animals that survived the fire are weakened and displaced, searching for shelter and food in a habitat that has changed.
• Andalusian hunting rules ban hunting on “días de fortuna”, a provision designed to protect wildlife after natural disasters such as wildfires.
• They also cited the hunting estates’ technical plans and biodiversity and animal-welfare laws.

According to Ecologistas en Acción, the Junta “has officially revoked the permits for the five hunts planned in Paterna and neighbouring towns”, a decision the group says restores compliance with the law. The published reports include no public statement from the regional government.

Recovery takes years

After a large fire, the land takes years to recover, and wildlife depends on the small islands of vegetation that didn’t burn. If you hike in summer, read what to do if you encounter a wildfire.