The resurrection of the Iberian lynx: historical maximum with 1,668 specimens throughout the peninsula
The Iberian lynx population has reached its historical maximum with 1,668 specimens in the Iberian Peninsula, of which 1,105 are adults or sub-adults and 563 are cubs, although, despite these data, the species is still in danger of extinction.
Most of the specimens (84.3%) are found in Spain, distributed in six Andalusian nuclei, which are home to 37.6% of the total population, followed by the four nuclei of Castilla-La Mancha, with 35%. of the lynx, and Extremadura, with 195 specimens in four nuclei of stable presence.
The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) working group, coordinated by the Ministry for Ecological Transition (MITECO), has published this Friday a report with the population results of the Iberian lynx carried out in 2022 by the communities with a stable presence of the species – Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura- and by the Portuguese authorities.
The document indicates that there are 15 nuclei with a stable presence of lynx throughout the Iberian Peninsula, the most important being those located in the Sierra Morena environment (782 lynx), the Montes de Toledo (272), the Guadiana Valley ( 261) and the Matachel area in Extremadura (138).
In Portugal, 261 lynx inhabit the Guadiana Valley area, in three different subnuclei (Mértola, Serpa and Alcoutim).
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Regarding births, in 2022, 563 of 326 breeding females were counted; thus, overall productivity, understood as the number of pups born per breeding or territorial female, was 1.72.
From these data it is obtained that the Iberian lynx population has reached 1,668 individuals in Spain and Portugal, the highest number recorded since there were conservation programs for the species, which represents a “very significant increase”.
In this study, more than 300 new specimens have been recorded compared to 2021, following the continued growth trend since 2015, which allows us to be “optimistic”, according to Miteco, which insists on continuing the efforts, given that the species is still considered “endangered” in the Spanish Catalog of Threatened Species.
KEY ROLE OF CAPTIVE BREEDING
The ex situ conservation program, which includes breeding in captivity and the reintroduction of specimens, is the result of coordinated actions in the Memorandum of Understanding for the development of the Iberian Lynx Conservation Strategy in Spain, signed between MITECO and the autonomous communities of Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura, as well as Portugal.
Since the first releases of individuals born in captivity began in 2011 and until 2022, a total of 338 specimens have been reintroduced.
El Miteco, through National Parks, manages two of the four existing breeding centers: Zarza de Granadilla (Extremadura) and El Acebuche (Andalusia), while the remaining centers are managed by Andalusia (La Olivilla Breeding Center) and by Portugal (National Center for the Reproduction of the Iberian Lynx or Silves Center).