Spanish government promisses that “the conservation of the Iberian Lynx is a priority”

The preservation of the iberian lynx in our country is a priority

This was the promise given by the Spanish secretary of State for the Environment, by the time of his visit to El Acebuche’s Cubs in captivity Centre in Doñana, Spain.

The Ministry [of Agriculture, Feeding and Environment] is promoting the recuperation of the Iberian Lynx in Spain, coordinating the actions of distinct administrations in the reproduction centres in ex-situ.

- Frederico Ramos, secretary of State for the Environment, stated while emphasizing the “improovements in the habitats in future reintroduction’s areas”

The spanish secretary of state for the Environment also stated that the results from ex-situ reproduction centres in 2012 were the ones that “achieved more success until the moment”: 44 cubs in the centres of El Acebuche (Huelva), Zarza de Granadilla (Cáceres), La Olivilla (Jaén) and SIlves (in Portugal). The portuguese centre being the one were the biggest number of newborn cubs have survived their first days (a total of 17 cubs).

Since the beggining of the reproduction program in captivity in 2004, a total of 116 cubs were integrated in the program of reproduction or freed in Sierra Morena, by the Junta de Andaluzia.

In 2012, there are now a total of 122 lynxes living in captivity, with a total of 62 males and 60 females.

According to Frederico Ramos, the Spanish government is preparing the field for future reintroductions – mainly with the improovement in the habitat and the higher density in the populations of wild rabbit – in it’s properties of Marismillas (Huelva), Quintos de Mora (Toledo) and in various other zones in Monfrague’s National Park.

Nearly a year ago, the European Comission approved the Iberlince Project (to be conducted from September 1st, 2011 until August 31st, 2016). Through the Life+ programm, this project with a budget of 34 million euros will try to consolidate and grow the world’s only reproductive populations in the wild of the Iberian Lynx, in Sierra Morena and in Doñana.

Besides this, the project proposed by the Junta de Andalucia wishes to establish four other populations, with 5 females each, in other places where the species used to exist: Andaluzia, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura and in Portugal. The objective is to identify the areas that have enough natural resources for the late reintroduction of the species.

Source: Público