Lorraine Williamson
A symbol of survival appears in the Pyrenees as the first brown bear cub in over 50 years is born in Aragón’s Hecho Valley—signalling hope for this endangered population.
After decades of near disappearance, brown bears are slowly returning to Spain’s Pyrenean wilderness. And now, a major milestone: the birth of a cub in the Hecho Valley, deep in Aragón’s Valles Occidentales Natural Park. This marks the first time in more than half a century that a brown bear has been born in this part of Spain.
The sighting, confirmed by the regional government’s Environment, Hunting and Fisheries department, shows a mother bear—Claverina—walking with her newborn cub. The footage is more than heartwarming; it’s a clear sign that conservation efforts in the western Pyrenees are starting to pay off.
Who is Claverina?
Claverina, a bear originally released by French authorities into the Aspe Valley in 2018, was relocated as part of a cross-border effort to revive dwindling bear populations in the Pyrenees. Until recently, Claverina was thought to roam alone, without contact with males. But her cub proves otherwise: she has mated—likely due to the gradual reappearance of other bears in the region.
The cub would have been born in the den during the mother’s hibernation between January and February. Newborns are tiny—typically weighing no more than 300 to 500 grams—and remain with their mother for up to two years, learning to forage and survive.
Bear numbers on the rise
Thanks to coordinated conservation initiatives between Spain and France, the bear population is slowly recovering. In the Valles Occidentales park alone, six bears now live: Claverina, her cub, and four males. Across the entire western Pyrenees, the current estimate is ten individuals—still critically low, but higher than in previous years.
This small but growing community of bears is part of a fragile ecosystem that depends on human tolerance and sustained investment.
Coexistence isn’t always easy
Reintroducing apex predators into rural landscapes comes with inevitable tension. In 2024 alone, Aragón recorded 33 livestock attacks attributed to bears—mostly targeting sheep. Compensation payments totalled €22,431. By mid-2025, four additional incidents had already been logged in the nearby Ansó region.
To help support local farmers and maintain balance between conservation and livelihoods, Aragón’s regional government has invested over €300,000 into biodiversity and wildlife management initiatives.
A delicate future for Spain’s bears
The return of the brown bear to Aragón is not just a win for wildlife lovers—it’s a rare ecological victory in a time of biodiversity loss. But its future remains fragile, balancing on careful cooperation between conservationists, local communities, and cross-border partners.
Claverina’s cub offers a glimmer of hope. Whether it grows into adulthood and helps further restore the bear population will depend on continued efforts to protect habitats, prevent conflict, and build understanding between humans and wildlife.
More challenges
More births, more bears—and more challenges. Conservationists will now closely monitor the cub’s development, hoping this tiny new arrival marks the beginning of a sustainable resurgence for one of Europe’s most iconic species.
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