The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is a brown and gray predatory cat native to the Iberian Peninsula. It is a small mammal, with the male typically weighing 15 kg (about half the size of the Eurasian lynx). It has broad paws, a short tail ending in a black band, black tufts at the tips of the ears, and long “sideburns” framing the face. The fur is covered with black spots that are characteristic of each lynx and allow experts to identify each individual.
Due to hunting, habitat loss and a sharp decline in wild rabbits (the lynx’s preferred prey), the Iberian lynx was on the brink of extinction in the early 2000s with only a hundred individuals left in the wild. Since then, several important conservation actions have been taken, based on territory and prey conservation, but also on the continuous reintroduction of captive-born specimens into the wild. It is only in recent years that the risk of extinction has been averted, although the species is still classified as “critically endangered.”
In the areas managed by Alpasín (Adamuz, Spain), we were already involved in conservation projects before the reserve became part of SKUA Wild Network. We guarantee the continuation of these actions in the coming years.