A species becomes endangered when its adult population falls between 250 and 2,500 individuals, and the overall population has declined by 70 to 80 percent in recent years. The Iberian lynx, Lynx pardinus, meets both criteria and has enjoyed protection since the 1990s. Ongoing conservation efforts have yielded a hopeful milestone: there are now more than 1,365 individuals on the Iberian Peninsula, a record high reached through dedicated work by conservation initiatives.
This species was first listed as endangered in 1986. At that time the lynx population dwindled to about 100 individuals, divided into two isolated clusters in the Sierra Morena and Doñana. A leading conservationist from WWF Spain notes that a major wildfire could have driven the species to extinction at that moment.
Success of EU Life projects
Habitat loss, road collisions, poaching and overall population decline were the primary threats. These alarms sparked the first major LIFE project in 2002 to prevent the species’ complete disappearance.
The initial LIFE project, titled Restoring Iberian Lynx Populations in Andalusia, marked a turning point. It aimed to connect existing populations in Andalusia and create exchange among groups to boost genetic diversity and reduce inbreeding risks. The program carried a budget above 9 million euros, with 42 percent provided by the European Union.
According to Pérez de Ayala, the core aim was to link separate populations and promote natural dispersal while safeguarding genetic diversity. Early results showed a 49 percent rise in lynx numbers over four years and an expansion of the species’ range by 73 percent, opening new suitable habitats for expansion.
Experts from WWF Spain describe ongoing LIFE efforts, including the Life Lynx Connect project, as among the most ambitious. This marks the fourth LIFE program approved by the European Commission for Iberian lynx conservation and runs from 2020 to 2025. The main goal is to increase the total population size and improve connectivity among core habitats to form a viable metapopulation.
The conservation strategy emphasizes linking isolated groups and ensuring that lynxes can move between hubs, which helps sustain genetic health and a resilient population.
How growth is monitored
WWF notes that a central task is ongoing population monitoring. Population counts rely on a photo capture method that uses camera traps placed throughout lynx habitats. Each animal is individually identified by skin patches that act as genetic fingerprints. This enables researchers to prevent and minimize causes of death, track movement, and observe settlement patterns.
Field programs have expanded cores from two in Andalusia to fifteen, with fourteen in Spain and one in Portugal.
Continued growth
The latest official data from the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge shows that conservation projects have produced measurable gains. The year 2021 recorded a total of 1,365 individuals across all age groups, with a notable 30 percent population increase over a two to three year period cited by WWF.
Of these individuals, 1,156 are in Spain and 209 in Portugal. The most populous region on the peninsula is Andalusia, followed by Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura. Castilla-La Mancha also led in pup production last season with the highest number of births and breeding females, followed by figures from Andalusia and Extremadura.
The growth trend reflects the emergence of new population areas, with lessons from earlier campaigns guiding more effective introductions since 2014. Growth has accelerated, approaching the carrying capacity of available habitats and prompting the creation of new core areas in Granada and Murcia. Population projections anticipate further increases in the coming years.
Ongoing threats
When establishing lynx populations, several factors can hinder expansion. The abundance of rabbits, the lynx main food source, is crucial; scarcity makes recovery difficult. In areas with suitable habitat but few rabbits, population growth stalls. A lynx typically begins reproducing with even a modest rabbit density, and higher densities correlate with more robust offspring.
While rabbit availability matters, the primary mortality threats include road accidents followed closely by poaching. Media reports of lynxes killed on roads highlight the need for road-side mitigation. Solutions include dynamic signage that activates when lynxes are nearby and efforts to keep road edges clear so drivers and animals can spot each other in time.
Train and prosecute: enforcement challenges
Poaching remains a persistent challenge. The issue is difficult to detect and confront. Experts advocate more field teams and vigilant enforcement to locate poaching hotspots. Proper training for civil guards and forest officers is essential to identify evidence and persuade prosecutors to take cases seriously. Despite ongoing efforts, many poaching cases go unprosecuted.
The overarching objective of these organizations and programs is to triple the number of Iberian lynx by 2040, moving the species from endangered to not endangered. Experts remain confident that progress is on track.
Upcoming initiatives: ViaLynx
As populations grow, researchers explore new habitats through initiatives like ViaLynx, a collaboration by SAIGAS Group of CEU Cardenal Herrera University in Valencia. The project seeks candidate areas to host future lynx herds. The team began by evaluating eight regions that meet minimum criteria, including a substantial, road-free habitat.
Key considerations include potential hazards such as secondary roads, irrigation ponds with drowning risk, and landing areas with high human activity. Rabbit availability remains a core requirement for sustaining any new population.
From the eight areas, two stand out as promising. The next steps involve community engagement and education to secure local support. School outreach has shown promise, as younger generations express greater openness to coexistence with the lynx.
Ultimately, the aim is to cultivate a climate where future lynx populations can thrive with local acceptance so that there is room for all species.
The ongoing work will continue to emphasize coexistence and habitat suitability as the lynx expands across the region.