Catalonia has sharply reduced the rabbit population in the Verdú area of Lleida through intensive night hunts using off-road vehicles and thermal imaging equipment. The regional government, led by Salvador Illa, launched the operation after rabbit densities reached 30.8 animals per square kilometre in June, threatening local crops and prompting urgent calls from agricultural groups. The campaign cut average rabbit density by 68% in one year.
Between late July and mid-August, 48 coordinated interventions resulted in the capture of 7,908 rabbits. The most effective actions were 26 night patrols with thermal scopes, which accounted for 6,311 captures. Additional night surveillance sessions contributed 923 more. Local hunters removed another 674 rabbits in just four outings. These efforts brought average density down to 9.9 rabbits per square kilometre, a 68% reduction in one year.
Despite this progress, the region remains under alert: post-reproduction densities still range from 10 to 15 rabbits per square kilometre in some areas. The Department of Agriculture confirmed that high-intensity control measures will continue, especially in the most affected zones. Farmers are encouraged to report crop damage through a dedicated app, prompting rapid intervention by government hunting teams.
During a meeting in Lleida, Jaume Feixa, director of the Territorial Services of Agriculture, assured farming groups that the Generalitat will maintain these aggressive controls to protect harvests. He described the plan as a direct response to the department’s commitment to tackle the overabundance of rabbits, which has become a impressive issue for Catalan agriculture.
Advanced technology and coordinated night operations are changing how wildlife management is handled in the region. Similar approaches have been adopted elsewhere in Spain, including Madrid’s deployment of AI-powered sensors to monitor urban wildlife, as detailed in a recent report on Madrid’s real-time bird and bat tracking system. These initiatives reflect a broader move toward data-driven interventions to manage animal populations and protect agricultural interests.
Rabbits have long posed challenges for Spanish farmers, particularly in areas with intensive agriculture. Their rapid reproduction and flexibility make them difficult to control through traditional hunting alone. The measures in Lleida show the scale of resources now being deployed to address the problem, as authorities balance crop protection with the ecological role of native species. Catalonia’s continued vigilance and use of technology point to an ongoing effort to manage the situation.
