Iberian lynx freed in Spain

This video says about itself:

Spain’s Last Lynx (2004)

The Iberian lynx was once a common sight across Spain, Portugal and southern France. Now, only a handful are left in the wild, the victims of man’s control of local rabbit populations.

Follow the fortunes of two of these beautiful and supremely skilled predators as they struggle for survival among the empty wetlands and sun-bleached mountains of southern Spain.

Despite their hunting prowess, time is running out for these graceful cats. Can they be saved from extinction?

From Wildlife Extra:

Two lynx released in Coto Donana to increase genetic diversity

July 2013. In an effort to increase the genetic variability of the population of Iberian lynx in Coto Doñana National Park, LIFE-Lynx have been running a series of carefully planned relocations of lynx from other areas.

Since 2007, four lynx from the Sierra Morena have been released in Doñana, two of whom have subsequently reproduced and so introduced their genes into the Donana population. This has restored some genetic diversity that had been lost to the [species] in the twentieth century.

On July 1 2013, two more Lynx were released as part of … this program; in this case the two lynx were again from the Sierra Morena, though these two have been part of the captive breeding program. These animals, known as Jabalcuz and Jarena (male and female respectively), were born and raised in the breeding centre in La Olivilla, which opened in 2006. The two lynx are currently sharing pre-release training and acclimatisation, in an attempt to create a bond between, and so far the indications are that the interactions between them have been very positive.

3 deaths

However, in the last couple of months, at least 3 lynx have died, two of which were hit by cars. A 4 year old male was found by the side of a road between the villages of Hinojos and Villamanrique de la Condesa to the south-west of Seville.

Another male lynx was found by the side of a road near Linares, to the east of Cordoba, just 3 days later.

A 10 year old female was found in Coto Donana National Park, it is thought she died of natural causes. This cat had actually recovered from leukaemia in 2007 and went on to produce several more kittens after that.

More good news

In a further boost to the Iberian lynx, breeding has been detected amongst cats in Caceres Province, to the north of Seville.

Back from the edge

According to WWF, at the beginning of last decade there were only two isolated breeding populations of Iberian lynx remaining in the world, located in southern Spain, and totalling about 100 adult animals, with only 25 breeding females. However, thanks to a programme run by the Andalusian government and the European Union there are … more than 300 animals today.

Balkan lynx conservation unifies neighboring countries: here.

Related articles

• Spain’s endangered Iberian lynx brought back from brink of extinction (guardian.co.uk)
• Cause for celebration as Iberian lynx caught on Portugal (historiadeunlinceiberico.wordpress.com)
• Doñana’s UNESCO status in danger (theolivepress.es)
• Spanish national park could lose Unesco status over illegal boreholes (environmentaleducationuk.wordpress.com)
• Ecologists confirmed breeding of the Iberian lynx released….. (greatcatsoftheworld.wordpress.com)
• Canadian Lynx (tagishwildlife.wordpress.com)
• Spain’s wetlands wildlife at risk from illegal boreholes for strawberry crop (guardian.co.uk)