Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/iberian-lynx/

“The lynx is a symbol of Iberian nature, and its conservation was the responsibility of all of us. Thanks to the work carried out over the last 20 years, it is now also one of the greatest examples of successful conservation worldwide,” expressed Francisco Javier Salcedo Ortiz, regional coordinator of the Iberian lynx recovery plan for Andalusia.

Now, there are more 1,100 Iberian lynx back in the wilderness of Spain and Portugal. From a population of less than a hundred 2 decades ago, the European Commission’s Life program has become the most successful cat conservation in history.

But, thanks as well to the determination of the Iberian lynxes to survive. These bob-tailed cats have adapted well to breeding in captivity which facilitated everyone’s mission.

Nonetheless, the European Commission and its partners recognize that the Iberian lynxes are not yet out of the woods. Hunting, illegal killings, and vehicle strikes have been the primary causes of death among these cats. They have to address these issues by intensifying education campaigns and changing hunters’ attitude toward lynxes whom they view as rivals to their favorite prey, rabbits.

Today, the recovering population of Iberian lynx has also opened opportunities for many landowners to earn through tourism.

Meanwhile, as these small cats grow in number, the conservationists have also been putting up wildlife underpasses, speed bumps, and road signs to minimize incidents of roadkill especially since some of the cats are getting familiar with human settlements, parks, and highways.

And now, the European Commission is on its next stage of the Life program, Life LynxConnect, with the enrichment of the cat’s biological diversity as its primary mission. They are producing at least 10 wildlife corridors — six-square-mile tracts of rabbit-rich habitats — to serve as passageways for the existing groups of Iberian lynxes.

The goal is to help increase the number of breeding female lynxes to 750 by 2040 to ensure they are out of danger of extinction.

According to Jim Sanderson, program manager for small-cat conservation at Re:wild and a member of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group, the year 2020 was the “best year ever for small-cat conservation. It was like we reached a tipping point, and all the sudden financial partners stepped up.”

He added that the Iberian lynx should serve as an inspiration for everyone.

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Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog