Iberian lynx cubs born in the wild bring hope for the world's most endangered feline species. The Iberian lynx is a fussy eater. We just didn’t know if there was any way to save them – they were right on the edge and in critical danger of extinction. The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), sometimes referred to as the Spanish lynx, is a critically endangered species native to the Iberian Peninsula in Southern Europe.It is the most endangered cat species in the world. Loss of habitat – With large built up areas, infrastructure, the construction of buildings, and much more on top of that, much of the habitat of these Lynxes has been destroyed. Iberian Lynx has got very good attention from both government and other wildlife organizations over the past decades. In lynx: Iberian lynx. Iberian Lynxes can be instantly recognised by their heavily spotted bodies complete with thick fur and long legs. Without the rabbits the Lynxes cannot eat, and if they can’t eat, they starve. Equally important will be the mapping and marking of blackspots: in 2019, 34 lynxes died after being run over. The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is one of the world’s most endangered wild cats The 2015 census released by the government of Andalusia, Spain, on 4 April shows a significant increase in the Iberian lynx population , which has reached the highest number of individuals since the 2002 negative record. Their strategy of seeking money and engagement from politicians, and cooperation from landowners and the public, gradually paid off. A 20-year project to reintroduce the species across the peninsula has seen their numbers rise to 855. Started by two diseases. In 1996, IUCN identified Iberian Lynx as the most endangered among all the wild cat species in the world. When a lynx comes along, explains Pérez de Ayala, the density of foxes and mongooses goes down and rabbit populations increase. Jun 9, 2020 - The Iberian lynx from Spain & Portugal is the most critically endangered of the wildcat species. If luck stays on our side, we'll have at least 750 females of reproductive age – 3,000 lynxes in total – by 2040. There are populations in the Sierra Morena and Donaña national park. Between 1985 and 2001, their range declined by 87% and the number of breeding females dropped by more than 90%. Human development such as … “On a more emotional level, the lynx is a jewel and a thing of beauty to behold.”, Available for everyone, funded by readers. The 2019 census, carried out using camera-traps and large reserves of patience, revealed that more than 80% of the lynx population is in Spain, that 311 kittens were born on the peninsula last year and that there were 188 females of reproductive age. The Iberian Lynx, also called the Lynx Pardinus, is known for its coat of yellowish to reddish-brown coat of hair. “We’re going to do some genetic tracking so we can monitor the situation and see if we need to move individuals artificially.”. These big cats once thrived in Spain, Portugal, and even in parts of Southern France. Their numbers were decimated by rapid habitat loss, with scrublands converted to agriculture and pine and eucalyptus plantations. Archaeological data show that this cat was once well distributed throughout the Me… Read More The species is fast dwindling and is now in an endangered species on IUCN Red List . Between now and then, existing populations will have to be blended and increased, and new ones established in rabbit-rich habitats. Unfortunately, these cats aren’t dying out by accident, and not surprisingly it is human beings that have played a big role in their steady decline over the years. WWF and its partners are working to restore the Iberian lynx to areas where it used to live. Common Names: Iberian Lynx, Pardel Lynx, Spanish Lynx Scientific Name: Lynx Pardinus Status: Critically Endangered Populous: Between 84 to 143 adults Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata (Vertebrata) Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae “If we carry on, if we can maintain the population growth momentum, and if luck stays on our side, we’ll have at least 750 females of reproductive age – which means more than 3,000 lynxes in total – by 2040,” he says. 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Iberian Lynx is an endemic cat species that is found in Iberian Peninsula, Europe. The Iberian, or Spanish, Lynx is currently one of the most endangered wild cat species in the world. Genomic studies of endangered species provide insights into their evolution and demographic history, reveal patterns of genomic erosion that might limit their viability, and offer tools for their effective conservation. As they are so severely under threat, Spanish governments have actually proposed seventy two separate protected sites to conserve the natural habitats of the animals. All rights reserved. A decline in food – Rabbits are the main prey of Iberian Lynxes and thanks to their steady decline, also thanks to human beings, with diseases such as Myxamatosis drastically decreasing wild rabbit populations. Beautiful once-endangered Iberian lynx are now thriving in Spain. Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. By the 1960’s, they were largely confined to Spain, covering around 10% of the surface of Spain. Spotty of coat, tufty of ear, and teetering on the verge of extinction less than two decades ago, the Iberian lynx is continuing to claw its way back across Spain and Portugal. In 2002, IUCN Cat Specialist Group initiated the first International Conference on the Conservation of the Iberian Lynx in Andujar, Spain. ONCE on the endangered-species list, Spain’s native Iberian lynx population is thriving, having grown from just 94 animals located in Andalucia in 2004 to nearly 700 nationwide in the most-recently conducted census by wildlife monitoring teams. The Iberian lynx has been brought to the brink of extinction because of a combination of threats: Decreasing food base Rabbits form the main prey of the Iberian lynx. Pérez de Ayala is also upbeat about the future of the lynx and hopes to see it move from the endangered category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of threatened species into the vulnerable category. It is … Ramón Pérez de Ayala, the large carnivores coordinator for WWF Spain – one of 21 partners in the latest project – warns that lynx populations are in danger of developing genetic problems if they remain isolated. Despite its speed and agility, it has a monastic diet, feeding almost exclusively on rabbits. In 2002, there were fewer than 100 left in the wild. In adult it has a very distinct facial ruff. Now there are over 300. Due to that fact many people are involved in conservation efforts for them. In 2002, there were fewer than 100 left in the wild. 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