The Portuguese lynx population was almost halved last week when the entire captive population was evacuated to Spain as the Algarve fire swept towards the centre.

All 29 Iberian lynx were moved safely out of harms way in a superbly organised move which involved 70 technicians from the National Conservation agency (ICNF) as well the Portuguese police and military personnel. The lynxes are currently distributed between three captive breeding centres in Spain until damage to their outside enclosures can be repaired and they can safely return.

The fire which started in Perna da Negra on 3rd August has destroyed around 21,000 hectares of forest, 50 homes and many wild and domestic animals. The area was planted with eucalyptus at twice the recommended density making the fire impossible to control. The heatwave which struck much of Europe last week with temperatures of up to 46 degrees C, as well as fierce winds made the fire particularly difficult to control with up to 18 firefighting planes including 3 from Spain and well over 1,000 volunteer fire fighters working flat out until the blaze was finally brought under control 7 days after it started.

The area was thought to be good lynx territory historically and was home to at least 4 breeding pairs of Bonellis eagle. The local council of Monchique has pledged to reduce the region’s dependency on the fast growing eucalyptus – known as ‘petrol trees’ due to the intense heat at which they burn.