The Iberian lynx population continues to increase in number and range as it expands to new areas in Spain and Portugal. The latest census of Iberian lynx numbers shows an estimated population of 1,365 individuals, this includes 500 cubs and 277 breeding females. For me, personally, the number of 209 individuals in Portugal is mesmerising, and I still hope for a fleeting image on my camera trap, one day I hope. One day.
The Iberian lynx reintroduction has been a very organised and controlled project, it quite simply had to be, in order to have a chance of long-term success. This was due to the extremely low numbers of Iberian lynx left in the wild when the project finally began, there were thought to be less than 100 wild lynx left, and unusually there were no Iberian lynxes in captivity in zoos. This was a small gene pool to build up species, some wild lynx were translocated, and wild lynx were brought into purpose-built captive breeding centres, initially, these wild lynx were ‘runts’ of lynx litters or injured lynxes. The scientific game of mixing and matching genes with the remaining population has been a crucial and painstaking task for captive breeding scientists.
It is now 20 years since I first met Sali and Aura in Jerez Zoo, (see video above) taken in 2002 in their enclosure in Jerez before they were moved to the Donana breeding centre, the captive breeding programme began in earnest a couple of years later, and Sali or ‘Saliega’ was the first to give birth in captivity. As more lynx were born in captivity, the reintroductions into the wild began. The first captive-born lynxes released into the wild began in 2010 in Spain and four years later to Portugal.
The rate of natural reproduction now far outstrips reintroductions, though lynx are still being reintroduced in both Portugal and Spain. Last year 7 lynx were released in Portugal and this year for the first time 4 lynx were released into the wild of the Algarve!
Useful websites:
Lynx Connect – current project covering the new project of linking the existing wild populations of Iberian lynx
Iberlince – the main LIFE project is not currently updated
Portuguese Institute of Nature and forests web page about the Iberian lynx
SOS LYNX 