It is a small islet located northeast of Fuerteventura (Canary Islands, Spain), just 20 minutes by boat from Corralejo. Its name comes from the fact that at some point in history monk seals, also known as sea lions, came to inhabit it. It was one of the first natural spaces in the Canary Islands to be protected, following the declaration of the Corralejo Dunes and Islet of Lobos Natural Park in 1982.
Law 12/1994, of December 19, on natural spaces in the Canary Islands, reclassifies Lobos and Dunas de Corralejo as two different natural parks: Dunas de Corralejo Natural Park and Islote de Lobos Natural Park.
Currently, the management of the Islote de Lobos Natural Park corresponds to the Master Plan for Use and Management, approved by Legislative Decree 1/2000, of July 5. The Commission of the European Communities has included the Islet of Lobos in the Spanish Network of Special Protection Areas for Birds (ZEPA), of Directive 79/409/EEC, of the Council, of April 2, on bird conservation wild.
The natural space of the Islote de Lobos is included within the Natura 2000 Network, as a Site of Community Importance established by the Government of the Canary Islands. This declaration is justified by the presence of habitats and species included in the Habitat Directive (habitats and species of community interest).
