status Iberian lynx keep giving good news The population of this species has reached its peak. Historical maximum with 1,668 copies In the Iberian Peninsula, 1,105 are adults or sub-adults and 563 are juveniles, according to the latest figures, just released with reference to 2022. Despite these data, the species is still in danger of extinction. lynx in the 80s was about to disappear because at that time only about 100 copies remained.
Most specimens (84.3%) are found in Spain and are found in six Andalusian cores, home to 37.6% of the total population, followed by the four cores of Castilla-La Mancha with 35%. Extremadura with 195 samples in the four cores of the stable entity.
Iberian lynx study group (lynx pardinusCoordinated by the Ministry of Ecological Transition (MITECO), released a report this Friday. Population results of the Iberian lynx in 2022 Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura- by communities with a stable presence of the species and by Portuguese authorities.
The document states that In total, there are 15 cores with a stable lynx presence. Throughout the Iberian Peninsula, the most important are those found around the Sierra Morena (782 lynx), Montes de Toledo (272), the Guadiana Valley (261) and the Matachel region in Extremadura (138).
In Portugal, 261 lynx live in three different sub-cores (Mértola, Serpa and Alcoutim) in the Guadiana Valley region.
563 births in 2022
Regarding births, 563 out of 326 breeding females counted in 2022; therefore, overall productivity, understood as the number of offspring per breeder or territorial female, was 1.72.
From these data it can be deduced that the Iberian lynx population reaches 1,668 individuals in Spain and Portugal; this is the highest number recorded since there are conservation programs for the species. “very significant increase”
In this study, we counted More than 300 new copies compared to 2021Miteco, which has enabled us to be “optimistic” after the growth trend that has continued since 2015, says that the genre is still ““danger of extinction” In the Spanish Catalogue of Threatened Species.
The key role of captive breeding
The ex situ conservation program, which includes captive breeding and reintroduction of specimens, is the result of coordinated actions in the Memorandum of Understanding between Miteco and the autonomous communities of Andalusia to develop the Iberian Lynx Conservation Strategy signed in Spain. Portugal with Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura.
Since that time The first release of individuals born in captivity into the natural environment will begin in 2011 and by 2022 a total of 338 examples have been re-released.
El Miteco manages two of the four existing breeding centers through the National Parks: Zarza de Granadilla (Extremadura) and El Acebuche (Andalusia) are administered by the remaining centers Andalusia (La Olivilla Breeding Centre) and Portugal (National Iberian Lynx Breeding Center or Silves Centre).
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