Shepherds protest wolf-attack payment delays in northern Portugal

Over fifty shepherds and livestock farmers from the Planalto Mirandês region protested in Miranda do Douro, demanding faster government compensation for wolf attacks on their herds. Producers said payments, when they arrive, often take over a year and fail to cover real losses, with some receiving nothing despite reporting incidents to the ICNF. A local deputy mayor called for the Alcateia Programme to be revised, easing conditions on fencing and guard dogs. In December 2025, the Environment Minister announced the government would double compensation payments, backdated to the start of the year.