Catalonia rabbit overpopulation crisis

On July 25 2026, Catalan farmer groups blocked the C‑14 highway near Tàrrega, demanding a concrete plan to curb wild‑rabbit overpopulation and compensation for crop damage. The protestors awaited a meeting with the regional Agriculture Minister and forest‑environment officials, and warned that further roadblocks could follow if no firm measures were announced.

Two days later, on July 27 2026, the Catalan Department of Agriculture unveiled an emergency “shock” programme aimed at rapidly reducing rabbit numbers. The plan calls for intensified captures, deployment of additional field devices and vehicles, and expanded operations in identified hotspots such as Verdú and Aspa. The region will renew its contract with Tragsa to maintain specialised culling teams through December 2027, review ZEPA protected‑area zones that shelter rabbits, and propose stronger insurance coverage for farms repeatedly affected by wildlife damage. The government framed the initiative as a shift from reactive to proactive management, seeking a marked drop in rabbit density and mitigation of agricultural losses.