Iberian lynx

TheIberian lynx(Lynx pardinus) is one of the fourextantspecies withinLynx, agenusof medium-sized wildcats. The Iberian lynx isendemicto theIberian Peninsulain southwestern Europe. It is listed asvulnerableon theIUCN Red List.In the 20th century, the Iberian lynx population had declined because of overhunting,poaching,fragmentationof suitable habitats, and the population decline of its main prey species, theEuropean rabbit(Oryctolagus cuniculus), caused bymyxomatosisandrabbit haemorrhagic disease.Fossilssuggest the species has been present in Iberia since the end of theEarly Pleistocene, around one million years ago.
By the turn of the 21st century, the Iberian lynx was on the verge ofextinction, as only 94 individuals survived in two isolated subpopulations inAndalusiain 2002. Conservation measures have been implemented since then, which included improving habitat, restocking of rabbits,translocating,reintroducingand monitoring Iberian lynxes. Between 2012 and 2024, the population had increased from a low of 326 individuals to some 2,021, leading to its reclassification as vulnerable.It is amonotypicspecies, and is thought to have evolved fromLynx issiodorensis.
Felis pardinawas thescientific nameproposed byCoenraad Jacob Temminckin 1827 who described skins of Iberian lynxes that were killed in the area of theTagusriver in Portugal and were traded in Paris and London.It is a monotypic species.
The Iberian lynx is suggested to have evolved fromLynx issiodorensis.Its earliest knownfossilremains date to the end of theEarly Pleistocene, around one million years ago.
The Iberian lynxgenetically divergedas a unique species 1.98 to 0.7 million years ago. Its closest living relative is theEurasian lynx(Lynx lynx) with which it coexisted to a certain degree until the 20th century.
The Iberian lynx has a short bright yellowish to tawny coloured spotted fur. The spots vary in shape and size from small round to elongate. They are arranged in lines and decrease in size from the back toward the sides.Its head is small with tufted ears and a ruff. Its body is short with long legs and a short tail. Head and body length of males is 74.7–82 cm (29.4–32.3 in) with a 12.5–16 cm (4.9–6.3 in) long tail and a weight of 7–15.9 kg (15–35 lb). Females are smaller with a head-to-body-length of approximately 68.2–77.5 cm (26.9–30.5 in) and a weight of 9.2–10 kg (20–22 lb).
The Iberian lynx was once present throughout the Iberian Peninsula. In the 1950s, the northern population extended from theMediterraneantoGaliciaand parts of northern Portugal, and the southern population from central to southern Spain.Populations declined from 15 subpopulations in the 1940s to only two subpopulations in the early 1990s, most noticeably inMontes de ToledoandSierra Morena. Before 1973, it was present inSierra de Gata, Montes de Toledo, eastern Sierra Morena, Sierra de Relumbrar and coastal plains in the Doñana area. Between the early 1960s and 2000, it has lost about 80% of its former range.In 2012, it was restricted to very limited areas in southern Spain, with breeding only confirmed in Sierra Morena and Doñana coastal plains.As of 2014, its range included the Sierra Morena and Montes de Toledo ofCastilla-La Manchaand the Matachel Valley ofExtremadurain Spain, and theGuadiana Valleyin Portugal.
Fossilremains indicate that the Iberian lynx had a wider range during theLate Pleistoceneand earlyHolocene. Five lynx remains found inArene CandideinNorthern Italydate to about 24,820–18,620 yearsbefore present. One specimen found in Cabias cave insouthern Francewasradiocarbon datedto 3780±90 years before present.In 2021, a large concentration of Iberian lynxes dating to 40,000 years ago were identified for the first time inSouthern Italy, at the fossil site of Ingarano inApulia.
The Iberian lynx prefersheterogeneousenvironments of open grassland mixed with dense shrubs such asstrawberry tree,mastic, andjuniper, and trees such asholm oakandcork oak. It is now largely restricted to mountainous areas.
The Iberian lynx marks itsterritorywith its urine, scratch marks on the barks of trees, and scat. The home ranges of adults are stable over many years.Camera trapping surveys in the eastern Sierra Morena Mountains between 1999 and 2008 revealed that six females had home ranges of 5.2–6.6 km(2.0–2.5 sq mi). Four males in the area had home ranges of 11.8–12.2 km(4.6–4.7 sq mi).
The Iberian lynx preys foremost on theEuropean rabbit(Oryctolagus cuniculus) for the bulk of its diet, supplemented byred-legged partridge(Alectoris rufa),rodentsand to a smaller degree also on wildungulates.It sometimes preys on youngfallow deer(Dama dama), Europeanroe deer(Capreolus capreolus),European mouflon(Ovis aries musimon), andducks.A male requires one rabbit per day, while a female raising kittens eats three per day.
The Iberian lynx has low adaptability and continued to rely heavily on rabbits, which account for 75% of its food intake, despite the latter's repeated population crashes due tomyxomatosisandrabbit haemorrhagic disease.Fecal samples of Iberian lynx containedanaerobic bacteriaof the genusAnaeroplasmathat suggest gut microbiome helps it digest its rabbit prey and may also aid in the degradation of plant material from the rabbits' guts.Antibiotic resistantbacteria were also found within the digestive tract of wild Iberian lynx.
The Iberian lynx competes for prey with theIberian wolf(Canis lupus signatus),red fox(Vulpes vulpes), theEgyptian mongoose(Herpestes ichneumon), and theEuropean wildcat(Felis silvestris). Also, it often kills other smaller carnivores such as the aforementioned red fox, Egyptian mongoose andcommon genet(Genetta genetta).Fossil leporid accumulations from the Late Pleistocene show that Iberian lynxes in Spain retreated to caves to rest and consume their meals.
The kittens become independent at 7 to 10 months old, but remain with the mother until around 20 months old. Survival of the young depends heavily on the availability of prey species. In the wild, both males and females reach sexual maturity at the age of one year, though in practice they rarely breed until a territory becomes vacant; one female was known not to breed until five years old when her mother died. The maximum longevity in the wild is 13 years.
Difficulty in finding mates has led to more inbreeding, which results in fewer kittens and a greater rate of non-traumatic death.Inbreeding leads to lower semen quality and greater rates of infertility in males, hindering efforts to increase the species'fitness.
The Iberian lynx is threatened by habitat loss, road accidents, and illegal hunting.Habitat loss is due mainly to infrastructure improvement, urban and resort development and tree mono cultivation, which fragments the lynx's distribution. In the 20th century, rabbit diseases such asmyxomatosisandhemorrhagic diseaseresulted in a dramatic decline of its main prey.Further, the lynx was hunted as "vermin" under a law passed underFrancisco Franco, from the 1950s to the late 1970s, when the hunting of lynx was prohibited. Secret hunting of lynxes still occurs today and is becoming a serious problem.Illegal traps set for rabbits and foxes were the leading causes for lynx mortality in the 1990s.In addition, every year, several Iberian lynxes die when trying to cross highways with heavy traffic,representing the majority of lynx deaths.In 2013, 14 Iberian lynxes died on roads, and 21 in 2014.In 2023, 144 lynxes were killed on roads.
In 2007, several individuals died offeline leukemia.
Increasing interactions with humans and spread of antibiotic resistant genes between lynx populations could pose a significant threat not only to lynx but also to humans.
The Iberian lynx is fully protected and listed onCITES Appendix I, on Appendix II of theBerne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitatsand on Annexes II and IV of theHabitats Directiveof theEuropean Union. It was listed asEndangeredon the IUCN Red List from 2014 through 2024.In 2024, it was reclassified toVulnerableafter young and mature Iberian lynx numbers increased to more than 2,000.
Conservation measures include restoring its native habitat, maintaining the wild rabbit population, reducing unnatural causes of death, and releasing captive bred individuals.The Spanish National Commission for the Protection of Nature endorsed the Iberian Lynx Ex Situ Conservation Breeding Program to serve as a "safety net" by managing the captive population and also to "help establish new Iberian lynx free-ranging populations through reintroduction programmes." Before release of captive-bred cats, their natural habit may be simulated to prepare them for life in the wild.A 2006 study used a non-intrusive monitoring system involving cameras to monitor the demographics of both lynxes and rabbits residing in Sierra Morena. Supplemental food sources could be provided if wild rabbits suffered a decline.
Management efforts have been developed to conserve and restore the animal's native range.Officials intending to release captive-bred lynx look for areas of appropriate habitat, rabbit abundance, and acceptance by the local human population.About 90 million euros was spent on various conservation measures between 1994 and 2013.TheEuropean Unioncontributes up to 61% of funding.
Beginning in 2009, the Iberian lynx was reintroduced intoGuadalmellato, resulting in a population of 23 in 2013.Since 2010, the species has also been released in Guarrizas.Discussions were held with theMinistry of Environmenton plans for releases in the Campanarios de Azaba area nearSalamanca.In April 2013, it was reported thatAndalusia'stotal wild population—only 94 in 2002—had tripled to 309 individuals.In July 2013, environmental groups confirmed the presence of a wild-born litter in theProvince of Cáceres(Extremadura).A study published in July 2013 inNature Climate Changeadvised that reintroduction programs take place in northern Iberia, suggesting that climate change would threaten rabbits in the south.
In November 2014, three Iberian lynxes were released in theMontes de Toledo; one of them later traveled nearAranjuez, in theMadridregion, the first time in 40 years.
The presence of Iberian lynxes in Portugal, particularly in the south, has been verified.In 2014, theInstitute for Nature Conservation and Forestssigned contracts securing 2,000 hectares of land for Portugal's reintroduction project.In 2015, 10 captive-bred Iberian lynxes were released intoGuadiana Valley Natural Parkand surrounding areas in southeastern Portugal's Guadiana Valley.By the end of 2015, there were 400 lynx on the Iberian peninsula, the vast majority in Andalusia, in southern Spain, but with smaller new populations in the hills near Toledo, in Extremadura (south-western Spain) and in southern Portugal.
The reintroduction of Iberian lynx in Portugal has been a success; from 17 animals that were reintroduced, 12 have already established territories.
Since a 2007 outbreak offeline leukemia virus(FeLV), wild lynxes are tested periodically for possible disease. September–December 2013 samples were negative for FeLV but one male became the first of his species to test positive forfeline immunodeficiency virusand was placed into quarantine.
In 2002, theJerezZoo confirmed it had three females and was developing a plan for a captive breeding program. One of those females wasSaliega, captured as a kitten in April 2002.She became the first Iberian lynx to breed in captivity, giving birth to three healthy kittens on 29 March 2005 at the El Acebuche Breeding Center, in theDoñana National ParkinHuelva, Spain.Over the following years, the number of births grew and additional breeding centers were opened. In March 2009, it was reported that 27 kittens had been born since the beginning of the program.In 2009, the Spanish government planned to build a €5.5 million breeding center inZarza de Granadilla.
In Portugal, the Centro Nacional de Reprodução do Lince-Ibérico established a breeding center nearSilves, Portugal,and has since nurtured 122 individuals all born in the breeding center, of which 89 survived. 73 of them were reintroduced in the wild. Reintroduction takes place inMértolaandSerpain the Guadiana Valley.As of 2020, there are around 140 individuals in the wild in Portugal spread through an area of approximately 50,000 hectares, 50 of them are cubs.
There were 14 surviving kittens in 2008 and 15 in 2009. In 2010, intense rain and health issues resulted in lower reproductive success, i.e. 14 born, eight surviving.But the next year, breeding centers recorded 45 births with 26 surviving kittens.In 2012, breeding centers in Portugal and Spain reported a total of 44 survivors from 59 births,while 2013 saw a total of 44 survivors out of 53 born.In 2017, the total population of Iberian lynx reached 475 specimens.In February 2019, the total population was estimated to grow to around 650 individuals.
In March 2013, it was reported that Iberian lynxembryosandoocyteshad been collected and preserved for the first time. They were collected from Saliega and another female—both sterilized and retired from the breeding program—by Berlin's Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research and stored in liquid nitrogen at theMuseo Nacional de Ciencias Naturalesin Madrid for possible future breeding.In July 2014, the MNCN-CSIC announced they had produced sperm cells from the testicular tissue of sexually immature lynx.
Iberian lynxes are kept at Jerez Zoo,atLisbon Zoosince December 2014,and since July 2016 at theMadrid Zoo.
Thegenetic diversityof the Iberian lynx is lower than in any other genetically impoverished felid, which is a consequence of fragmentation, apopulation bottleneck, and isolation of population units.Iberian lynxes in Doñana and Andujar differ genetically atmicrosatellitemarkers. Samples collected in Doñana exhibited a high degree ofinbreedingas this unit was isolated for a long time.
Portuguese street artistBordalo IIcreatesinstallationsmade ofgarbageto highlightover-consumption. His works consisting of animals are created to highlight the destruction of species by waste caused by humans.One of hispublic sculpturesis a huge Iberian lynx in theParque das Nações,Lisbon, Portugal, made for the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in 2019 and Youth Forum Lisboa+21.