A surprising encounter between a frightened domestic cat and a calm Iberian lynx was captured on camera yesterday at the Castro Marim golf course.
The wild feline approaches and lies down nearby as the orange tabby growls in disapproval, seemingly caught using a bunker as a litter box.
The comical encounter was shared on the Facebook page of the Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas (ICNF).
Several users of the social network questioned why the lynx appeared to have a collar, which others explained was allegedly a tracking device placed on these animals bred in captivity when they are released into the wild.
The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is a protected species that is recovering, thanks to the efforts of the ICNF and its partners in wildlife conservation in Portugal.
If you come across a lynx, always keep your distance and respect its space.
