Aralar mountains face unprecedented drought and livestock crisis

The Aralar mountain range, located between Navarra and Gipuzkoa, is experiencing an unprecedented drought that has transformed its green meadows into desert-like landscapes. The lack of rainfall since June has severely impacted the region's livestock industry.

Of the 45,000 head of cattle, sheep, and horses that typically graze in the mountains each season, approximately half have already been removed. Many farmers have been forced to move their animals down from the mountains months earlier than the usual October or November schedule. Those remaining in the mountains face risks to their lives as they search for food in steeper areas and spend hours queuing at limited water troughs.

The Enirio-Aralar Commonwealth is attempting to mitigate the crisis using water tankers, but local producers report that these efforts are insufficient to combat the prolonged dry spell.