Lince Ibérico

Iberian Lynx

(Lince Ibérico)

 (Lynx pardina)HabitatThe Iberian lynx is found only in very restricted areas of Spain and Portugal. The main habitat of the Iberian lynx what areas are well preserved Mediterranean forest, isolated from human activity and abundant thicket.Territory size is determined by the abundance of potential prey, but on average takes about 10 square kilometers. In areas rich in food, lynx territory will be somewhat lower than in poor areas. Within this territory there are often different vital areas for the lynx as rangeland for resting and foraging areas where the lynx is active and which coincide with the maximum density of rabbits.Currently the best preserved cores limited to Eastern Sierra Morena, Montes de Toledo Oriental and Doñana. There are also small populations in Sierra de San Pedro and Sierra de Gata, Central and Western Sierra Morena and some points of the Betic Sierras de Jaén and Granada.FoodThe Iberian lynx is the only carnivore specialist considered rabbits. This species gives 80 to 90% of their diet. Also consume waterfowl, ungulates, partridges, mammals and birds. The occurrence of these prey in their diet depends on the time of year, and prey availability in the area.Why in dangerThe main causes of the Iberian lynx is endangered are the lack of food, since there is a sharp decline in the populations of rabbits, their main food, the destruction of their natural habitat, the Mediterranean forest, the poaching and violations on the roads, and living near populated areas. The reduction of populations and their genetic quality deteriorates unviable reproduction in the wild.The International Union for Conservation of Nature, has been qualified by the Bengal tiger, as the world's most endangered feline. In just fifty years, this species has gone to inhabit most of the Iberian Peninsula to be confined in small areas unconnected.How we can helpThere are currently five lynx populations in the wild, of which only two are genetically viable. The most important is in the Sierra de Andújar, a Mediterranean mountain area with an acceptable condition and in which it is estimated that about 60 copies survive. Of those, a dozen are located inside the New Place state farm, which has launched the Comprehensive Plan for the protection of the species.The second most important area is in the Doñana National Park. There are estimated to be approximately 40 copies. The other three areas are framed in the southeast quadrant of the peninsula: The Enebral, Montes de Toledo and Sierra de Gata and Granadilla.A captive breeding program tries to ensure short-term conservation of the genetic material of the species and create, medium and long term, new populations of Iberian lynx, reintroducing them in their natural habitat. The breeding program is done in the Doñana National Park (Breeding Center "The Acebuche"), and in Jerez Zoobotánico