This feline can distinguish a rodent from 75 meters away. The name of this species comes from a Greek term meaning ‘bright eyes’. It has yellowish-green eyes ready to see both day and night.
Key Points
- Name: Iberian Lynx or Lynx pardinus
- Habitat: Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Spain and Portugal
- Distinctive Features: Triangular ears with hair on the tip, small mane, spots, tail, capable of jumping up to 5 meters
- Evolutionary History: Migrated from North America 2.5 million years ago
- Role in the Ecosystem: “Umbrella species” protecting its habitat and other species
- Diet: Mainly rabbits, but also birds, small mammals, and reptiles
- Threats to Survival: Habitat destruction, illegal hunting, and road construction
- Conservation Efforts: Captive breeding programs, habitat preservation, and more
- Population Status: Critically endangered, but efforts have led to population increase
- Geographic Distribution (Eurasian Lynx): Once widespread in Europe and parts of Asia
- Where to See Iberian Lynx: Sierra Morena, Parque Nacional y Natural de Doñana, and more
- Adoption Option: WWF offers opportunities to help protect these elusive animals.
Shy But Beautiful Lynx
The lynx has large, pointed ears with black tufts, cheek hair resembling a beard, and leopard-like spots. This feline has been endangered for a long time due to habitat destruction, illegal hunting, and other factors.
What is the Iberian Lynx?
The Lynx pardinus is a medium-sized feline that can be found on the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Spain and Portugal, south of the European continent. Its most distinctive features or characteristics, apart from its medium size within felines, are its triangular ears with hair on the tip, its small mane around the cheeks and neck, its spots, its tail of between 8 cm and 15 cm and its way of hunting, as it is capable of jumping up to 5 meters away.
Iconic Animal
The lynx was established as a species some 1.8 million years ago in one of Europe’s main glacial refuges: the Iberian Peninsula. It is, therefore, a jewel of the Iberian Mediterranean mountain. Currently, the breeding program is currently in progress at the Acebuche Breeding Centre, located within the Doñana National Park and the Zoo Botanical area in Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz. These facilities protect some of the world’s most endangered feline species. Without these efforts, these remarkable animals might be on the brink of extinction.
Why is it Essential to Save the Lynx?
The Iberian lynx is endangered and serves as an “umbrella species.” Protecting it also conserves the Mediterranean forest and many other species. As a top predator, the lynx controls other predators like foxes, reducing pressure on rabbits, which are vital for other threatened species like the Iberian imperial eagle. Small populations face high risks due to low genetic diversity, so habitat restoration and captive breeding programs are essential to maintain a healthy population.
How Can We Protect the Iberian Lynx?
Also of great importance is the impact that the construction of roads, railways, and hydraulic infrastructures have on the lynx since they alter its habitat and fragment the territory, causing the loss of critical areas. There are numerous and tremendous decisions taken by public administrations that slide the world’s most endangered feline toward definitive extinction.
Conservation Measures
The National Hydrological Plan, which includes the construction of a dozen large reservoirs in the lynx distribution area, and the Infrastructure Master Plan, which includes several cases of highways, motorways, and high-speed trains, are conservation measures currently being put in place to conserve lynx populations. Further, the construction of green bridges to prevent road accidents is another measure that can reduce deaths.
Breeding Programs
The captive breeding program, which operates at the Acebuche Breeding Centre, located in Doñana National Park, and the Zoo Botanical area in Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz, ensures the conservation of species’ genetic material. These facilities have multiple roles, such as quarantining lynx, caring for their young, and housing both young and adult lynx. This initiative is a vital step in protecting some of the world’s most endangered feline species, preventing their potential extinction.
Good News
In Extremadura, the first releases began in 2014 in the Matachel Valley, where the most prominent nucleus of the lynx population is currently found. Here it has “an ideal Mediterranean habitat and a high population of rabbits, the main food of the feline.” The objective now is to achieve a quantifiable population increase and promote connectivity between population nuclei in all reintroduction areas.
Eurasian Lynx Presence by Region
- Notably Absent In: Iceland, British Isles, Mediterranean islands, coastal areas around the North Sea, Denmark, southern Norwegian fjords, far north of Fennoscandinavia, including the Kola Peninsula
- Asia: Widespread from the Urals to the Pacific Ocean, northern China, Tibet, Mongolia, and Turkestan. Northern boundary at the Arctic Circle.
- Southern Range: Extended to Nepal, northern India, northern Pakistan, Persia, and possibly Palestine.
- Historical Range: Extinct in the Western areas of Europe by 1960, but survived in northern, eastern, and southeastern Europe and most of Asia. Westernmost presence around 1960 in southern Sweden, eastern Poland, and eastern Slovakia.
How to Meet the Iberian Lynx
To be able to see the these wild in freedom is not an easy task due to its scarce population. But with luck and time, you will be able to see these big cats in the wild. Now there are very specific focal points in Andalusia to be able to see them.
Sierra Morena
There are currently two well-differentiated population centers: The shared area of Sierra de Cazorla and Sierra de Andújar. Between Córdoba and Jaén, you can easily organize a weekend to enjoy the area. They like to traverse deep snow. We advise you to place yourself in a viewpoint or observatory with a good view of the mountains and good binoculars. It is important to be silent and attentive, as these big cats avoid humans.
Parque Nacional y Natural de Doñana
We care about responsible tourism. In the southwestern part of Andalusia, mainly within Huelva, there’s a National Park that hosts the largest population of Lynx in Spain. This park also serves as a stopover for numerous migratory birds on their way to Africa. If you’re interested in spotting these magnificent felines, a route through the lush vegetation of the Raya Real area in Coto del Rey is your best bet. You might just get a glimpse of these elusive creatures there.
The Iberian Experience
The Iberian Lynx experience, with “Untravelled Paths” offers a guided tour in the direction of Andalusia for four nights.
Adopt an Iberian Lynx
Yes, as you read it. WWF (The World Wide Fund for Nature) is an international non-governmental organization working in the field of wilderness preservation, and the reduction of human impact on the environment. This time they offer us the opportunity to help these cute cats from home. You can adopt your lynx from their website.
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