The Remarkable Comeback of the Iberian Lynx from the Brink of Extinction

Iberian Lynx: A Journey to Near Extinction

Iberian lynx was the rarest among the 36 cat species in the world and was classified as endangered till June 2024. To the great relief of all animal lovers and Nature enthusiasts, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) took it off the endangered list and moved it to the ‘vulnerable’ list in June 2024.

In 2001, only 62 mature adults of the species were alive. By 2022, their number had grown to 648, a remarkable achievement resulting from the tireless efforts of conservationists. This cat species’ staple food is a wild rabbit known as the European rabbit. This rabbit species was facing a population decline due to new diseases. The team that worked to increase the population of Iberian lynx ensured these rabbits were also saved and grew in numbers. The conservation efforts were fruitful because this species was limited to certain pockets of Spain and Portugal, enabling easier intervention.

Transitioning from the endangered to vulnerable list does not guarantee the species' safety. Persistent conservation efforts will have to continue.

Iberian Lynx: Habitat and Vulnerabilities

This wild cat species originated in the Iberian parts of Spain and Portugal. Fourteen regions in these two countries were identified where these cats lived and reproduced. Forest conservation and the freeing of captive lynxes in these regions also played a role in the population growth of lynxes.

One reason for the fall in population of this cat species was the newly built Spanish highways. When highways were constructed straight through pristine wilderness, the lynxes became roadkill.

This species' survival issues are also connected to a break in the food chain. Their main prey, the European Rabbit, was infested by poxvirus, a virus introduced from South America into Europe in the first half of the 20th century. A type of pneumonia also caused their population to decline.

Human activity altered rabbit habitats into agricultural fields, further pushing them to the verge of extinction. However, the rabbits have slowly developed natural immunity to diseases, and conservationists have intervened to protect them.

Iberian Lynx: Features, Behaviour, and Habitat

The coat colour of the Iberian Lynx varies from yellowish to reddish brown. Dark brown and black spots of different sizes can be seen on the coat. The adult males of Iberian lynx weigh about 12 kg, and females, 9 kg. The tail is very short, and the two unmistakable and distinctive features are the flared facial ruff and pointy ears.

These cats live in scrub vegetation and undergrowth. Mediterranean woodlands are their most favoured natural habitat. Their almost exclusive prey is European rabbits. During the winter, the rabbits would become scarce, and only then would the lynx hunt red and fallow deer and birds. In certain wetland habitats, they also prey upon ducks.

Generally, an Iberian lynx requires one rabbit a day to maintain good health. Being mostly nocturnal, they travel about 7 kilometers each night in search of prey. Though they live in scrubs, the lynxes hunt in open pastures for rabbits.

The females choose small caves and hollow trees as breeding places. Kittens stay in these breeding places for about 20 days. The kittens would live close to the mother’s hunting territory for almost 20 months.

Conservationists call the recovery of the Iberian lynx an extraordinary instance of species protection. This could be the greatest recovery ever achieved by a cat species. What dire fate climate change has in store for this beautiful animal is still unknown. While celebrating its comeback, the world must not go complacent, or we might lose one more magnificent fellow species of this planet forever.

Remember, the Iberian lynx is a wild animal and cannot be domesticated. They usually avoid human settlements and contact. They do not prey upon rodents, a feature of the domestic cat that made them friends of farmers in the first place.

Knowing that these magnificent cats still live alongside us on this beautiful planet enriches our existence and reminds us of our responsibilities towards other species.