When devastating wildfires swept through La Adrada, Spain, Animal Heroes travelled to the affected area to see the destruction firsthand and help the animals caught in its aftermath. Thanks to the incredible support of our donors, we are providing emergency food and practical help while standing alongside local rescuers and communities as they care for animals and begin to rebuild.
Our arrival in La Adrada
On 2 August, we set off early in the morning for La Adrada, a village in the province of Ávila (Castile and León) that has been severely affected by the wildfires.
Until the very last moment, we were unsure whether we would even be able to reach the village. The evening before, we received a call from Alexandra, our local contact who is coordinating emergency aid for animals. The fire had flared up again, and part of La Adrada had to be evacuated for the second time. There was a real possibility that the access roads would be closed again.
Nevertheless, we decided to leave the following morning. While we were on our way, we received the reassuring news that the fire was temporarily under control and that the roads were accessible again. Early that evening, we arrived in La Adrada, where we immediately met Alexandra and the local volunteers who had been working tirelessly for days to help animals in the affected area.
People looked as though they had just climbed out of a chimney. Their clothes, faces and hands were covered in soot (see photo). Smoke still hung everywhere, stinging our eyes, and the smell of burnt wood filled the air. The forest was no longer engulfed in flames, but in many places the fire was still smouldering underground among the roots of the trees.
The landscape was almost unreal. Blackened hills stretched as far as we could see. It felt as though we had stepped onto a film set. A few years ago, we experienced something similar while providing emergency aid during the wildfires on Rhodes, but you never get used to it. It is indescribably sad to see so much nature destroyed in such a short space of time.
A paradise built over seventy years
Alexandra quickly proved to be someone who gets things done. Less than ten minutes after meeting her, we were already in her car. Our first destination was the botanical garden of Axel Mahlau, a German nature lover who, together with his Spanish wife Amelia, created a remarkable natural sanctuary.
Over nearly seventy years, the garden grew into a botanical treasure containing more than 1,700 different species of trees and plants from all over the world.
Axel told us that, as a child, his parents gave him a small patch of garden. It was there that he learned how to care for flowers and plants and discovered his love of nature. That passion never left him. Later, Axel and his family brought back unusual plants and seeds from their travels to Spain. His life’s work eventually became a botanical garden where nature lovers, schoolchildren and other visitors could discover its extraordinary biodiversity.
What had once been a lush green paradise was now approximately 90% destroyed.
In several places the ground was still smouldering. All that remained of some rare plants was a melted flowerpot. Yet in the middle of the property, one small house was still standing. Miraculously, the home of Axel and Amelia had been spared.
What makes it even more painful is that the same area was struck by a major wildfire 46 years ago. On that occasion, the botanical garden was almost entirely spared. This time, the fire showed no mercy.
Every plant had a story
As Axel showed us around, he spoke passionately about his collection. For almost every burnt plant, he could still tell us its Latin name, the country it came from and even its age. You could feel how much love, knowledge and how many years of work had gone into this place.
I quickly realised that this garden was much more than a collection of trees and plants. It was Axel and Amelia’s life’s work.
A safe haven for animals
But the botanical garden was also a safe haven for animals.
Donkeys, pigs, ducks, turkeys, geese, a peacock and various other birds live there, all of them taken in for different reasons. Suddenly, we heard two donkeys braying loudly. For the first time since we arrived, their voices brought a little life back into an otherwise lifeless landscape.
When the evacuation order was issued, Axel and Amelia opened all the doors to the animal enclosures. They hoped the animals would flee and find somewhere safe. The chicken enclosure, however, was already too close to the fire and could no longer be reached safely. Sadly, there was no way for those animals to escape. None of the chickens survived the fire.
When Axel and Amelia were eventually able to return, many of the other animals were still on the property. Whether they had fled and later returned, or had somehow found shelter on the grounds during the fire, will probably always remain a mystery.
Melted roofs
The heat was so intense that the roofs of several animal enclosures completely melted.
Because genets live in the surrounding area, the animals cannot safely roam outside at night. For now, they are all having to stay together in the only enclosure whose roof is still somewhat intact. It is far from ideal for animals that are used to having plenty of space during the day and returning safely to their own enclosures at night.
There is another problem as well.
A natural water source on the property is now attracting deer back to the area. Axel wants to provide food for them, but he is also worried that they may eat the approximately 150 plants that managed to survive the fire.
Thanks to your support
Thanks to the enormous media attention surrounding our emergency appeal, and the incredible support of people including the readers of INSpanje.nl, we have now raised more than €20,000.
The following morning, we practically cleared out an agricultural supply store so that we could buy enough food. This will not only help care for Axel’s animals in the short term, but will also provide food for wildlife and animals at other locations in the surrounding area.
We also purchased our first truckload of hay. Thanks to Alexandra’s contacts, we found reliable local suppliers, Carlos and Eva, as well as a permanent storage location. This means that new deliveries can continue to arrive over the coming weeks and months for birds, deer, goats, wild boar, donkeys and other animals.
Together with Axel, an animal organisation from Madrid and the local forestry service, Alexandra will make sure that the food reaches the places where it is needed most.
Our support doesn’t stop here
Because the fire risk remains very high, we have decided to purchase food in smaller quantities at a time. The last thing we want is for a stockpile of 50,000 kilos of hay to go up in flames. Purchasing supplies in stages also allows us to respond to changing needs and ensure that enough funds remain available to provide food for as many animals as possible over the next two months.
Only when the first rains arrive will the grass begin to grow again and many animals be able to find enough food for themselves. Until then, they will remain dependent on human assistance.
Our colleague Lucas, who lives in Portugal, will soon travel to La Adrada at his own expense to repair the damaged roofs of the animal enclosures and the fencing. This will allow the birds to return to their familiar shelters, while the deer can be safely fed near the water source without eating the last remaining plants.
When we said goodbye to Axel, he told us that he does not know whether his botanical garden will ever be the way it once was. At the same time, he said that all the support he has received over the past few days has given him hope again.
We took that feeling home with us too.
Nature here has suffered an enormous blow, and many animals will remain dependent on help for months to come. Thanks to your donations, we have been able to take the first step. We cannot solve everything, but together we have made sure that animals that have lost everything will at least have access to food in the difficult period ahead.
On behalf of Alexandra, Axel, Amelia, all the volunteers and, above all, the animals: thank you so much for your support.
What happens next?
Thanks to your donations, we have achieved an incredible amount in a very short time. But our work in Spain is not finished yet.
Over the next two to three months, many animals will remain completely dependent on emergency food. Only after the first rains will the grass begin to grow again and many animals be able to find enough food for themselves. Until then, we will continue purchasing and distributing emergency food together with Alexandra, Axel and the local volunteers.
Our colleague Lucas will also soon travel to La Adrada at his own expense to repair the damaged roofs of the animal enclosures and the fencing. This will allow the animals to be safely housed again and enable the deer to be fed without them eating the few remaining plants that survived the fire.
However, building materials are still needed for these repairs. Axel does not yet know exactly how much they will cost, but we hope to raise an additional €3,000 for the materials. Every euro will go directly to Axel, enabling him to purchase what is needed to make the animal enclosures safe again.
Would you consider helping us one more time? Every additional donation, no matter how small, helps us continue purchasing emergency food over the coming months and repair the damaged animal shelters. Together, we can help as many animals as possible through this difficult period.
