Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)

Common Names: Iberian Lynx, Spanish Lynx

The Iberian, or Spanish, Lynx is currently the most endangered wild cat in the world. Closely related to the Eurasian Lynx, Lynx lynx, their ranges used to meet at the Spanish-French border along the Pyrenees Mountains. More recently, the range of the Iberian Lynx has significantly contracted, and is currently a series of small islands of suitable natural habitat, such as national parks and mountain hunting reserves.

The Iberian Lynx looks like a smaller version of the Eurasian animal. They are closer in size to the Canada Lynx, Lynx canadensis, and are similar in habits as well, since they rely on rabbits for a large part of their diet.

Iberian Lynx have a coat colour of yellowish to reddish-brown, patterned with many dark spots, and white underparts. They have the typical look of the lynx species, with a flared facial ruff, long, dark ear tufts, and a very short, dark tipped tail. They are only about half the size of the Eurasian Lynx, weighing 8.7 - 14.5 kg. Males average about 27% larger than females.

These cats prefer areas of native Mediterranean woodlands and thick, shrubby areas, especially for resting during the day. They move along the edges of meadows and more open grassland areas, especially around dusk and dawn, to hunt their favourite prey, the European rabbit. Only when the rabbit population crashes due to viral outbreaks, do they look to other prey such as small rodents, birds, and the young of wild boar, red deer, fallow deer,chamois and moufflon sheep.

Mating season runs from January to July, with peak breeding occurring in January/February. One to four, usually 2-3, kittens are born after a gestation period of 60-70 days. The majority of den sites have been found at the base of an old, hollow cork oak tree, indicating how important these trees are to the female. The peak birthing season is March and April in central and southern Spain. Kittens stay in the natal den for the first 20 days, after which their mother moves them to as many as three or four other dens. This may give them more room as they begin to develop their motor skills, as well as help protect them against being discovered by predators as fecal material and smells build up. It may also help avoid parasite build up in any single den. Kittens are eating solid food by 28 days but will nurse for 3-4 months becoming independent around 10 months of age.

Females are able to breed in their first winter but independent kittens often remain in their natal territory until 20 months of age. Males and females usually don't breed until they acquire their own territory, and they may have to wait until a current landholder dies, or moves on. Iberian Lynx have lived to 14 years of age in the wild.

There are less than 100 Iberian Lynx left in the world today. The population is becoming increasingly fragmented, so that it is more and more of a challenge for cats to find each other to mate. They are also forced to move through more and more developed areas, and thus come into contact with humans and vehicles. Besides habitat loss, major threats include road development, being caught in traps meant for other animals, and illegal shooting.

Efforts by ICONA (the Spanish National Nature Conservation Institute) to improve conditions in Donana National Park, one of the last strongholds of the species, include increasing rabbit numbers by improving habitat conditions and removing some grazing animals to decrease competition for food with rabbits. In areas surrounding the Park, efforts are being made to decrease lynx traffic fatalities, eliminate trapping of rabbits and other animals, and initiate a campaign of environmental awareness. There are also plans to promote genetic exchange through the creation of natural habitat corridors between populations. Finally, a last ditch effort is being made to establish a captive breeding group of Iberian Lynx, made up of injured and unreleaseable animals.

Iberian Lynx are placed on Appendix I of CITES, and are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List. They are being given the highest priority in terms of protection and research.