Iberian Lynx Population Reaches Record High
The Iberian lynx continues to show strong signs of recovery. The latest numbers for 2022 indicate a peak population of 1,668 individuals, combining Spain and Portugal. In the Iberian Peninsula, 1,105 are adults or sub-adults and 563 are juveniles. These figures confirm a historic high, yet the species remains at risk of extinction. Back in the 1980s the population had dwindled to around 100 individuals, highlighting how far conservation efforts have come.
Most lynx sightings are concentrated in Spain, where 84.3 percent of the population is found. Six Andalusian cores account for 37.6 percent, followed by four cores in Castilla-La Mancha holding 35 percent. In Extremadura, the species is present across four stable cores, totaling 195 individuals.
The Iberian Lynx Study Group, coordinated with the Ministry of Ecological Transition, released a report on the 2022 population across Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, and Extremadura. The document tracks stable populations by region and notes the cooperation with Portuguese authorities in monitoring the species.
Release of a captive-bred lynx
The report confirms that there are 15 cores with a stable lynx presence across the Iberian Peninsula. The most significant populations are centered around Sierra Morena with 782 individuals, Montes de Toledo with 272, the Guadiana Valley with 261, and the Matachel region in Extremadura with 138. In Portugal, 261 lynx live in three sub-cores in the Guadiana Valley area, specifically Mértola, Serpa, and Alcoutim.
563 Births in 2022
In terms of reproduction, 563 births were recorded among 326 breeding females in 2022. This yields a productivity rate of 1.72 offspring per breeding female. Taken together, these data show that the Iberian lynx population in Spain and Portugal has reached 1,668 individuals, the highest level seen since conservation programs began. The growth is described as a very significant increase by authorities involved in the study.
Lynx with cubs
The study notes a clear upward trajectory since 2015 and emphasizes that the species still faces threats that keep it categorized as endangered in the Spanish Catalogue of Threatened Species. The positive trend, however, has boosted optimism about the long term prospects for the species in the region.
The Critical Role of Captive Breeding
Captive breeding and ex situ conservation form a cornerstone of the Iberian lynx strategy. This approach involves breeding lynx in controlled settings and reintroducing them into the wild under coordinated management. The program arose from a Memorandum of Understanding among the Ministry of Ecological Transition and the autonomous communities of Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, and Extremadura, creating a formal Iberian Lynx Conservation Strategy. The collaboration extends to Portugal as part of the same framework.
The first captive-born individuals were released into natural habitats in 2011. By 2022, a total of 338 lynx had been reintroduced to the wild as part of ongoing conservation efforts. The program is managed by several centers across the region. Two of the four breeding centers under the national parks framework are Zarza de Granadilla in Extremadura and El Acebuche in Andalusia. The other two centers are La Olivilla in Andalusia and Silves in Portugal, which contribute to the broader conservation mission.
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