A trek in a remote corner of the Iberian Peninsula brought a writer face-to-face with ancient oaks, rewilding efforts and prehistoric cave art.

Marcos Rodríguez Pantoja’s improbable story of a wild youth became the subject of a study, and inspired a novel and film.

© Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images

The improbable story of Marcos Rodríguez Pantoja’s wild youth became the subject of a study, as well as inspiring a novel and a film.

© Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images

The authorities tracked the animal after a string of close encounters with residents, reigniting a bitter debate over how a small, densely populated country should live with wolves.

© Ritzau Scanpix/Sipa USA, via Associated Press