Spain still has more lynx than Portugal, but Portugal’s population is growing
The Iberian lynx population shared by Portugal and Spain rose to 2,021, up from 1,668 the previous year, according to the annual census carried out by the European Life project that coordinates conservation of this endangered species.
Data shows that in Portugal, in the Guadiana Valley, last year there were 53 breeding females, 100 cubs and a total of 291 specimens.
In Spain’s Andalucia community, the Doñana-Aljarafe population rose from 108 to 130. In Andújar Cardeña it rose from 268 to 271, in Guadalmellato from 40 to 41 and in Guarrizas from 167 to 201.
The population in Setefilla went from nine to 11; Las Minas fell from 17 to 11, Guazurejos, from one to three and the new population in Sierra Arana, basically fuelled by reintroductions, went from five to 13.
In total, the Andalusian population stands at 686 out of a total of 2,021, which includes 406 breeding females and 722 cubs.
At the turn of the millennium, the lynx was considered critically endangered, with only around 100 left and all of them in Spanish Andalucia.
Today, according to Life, “an undetermined number have dispersed throughout the Iberian Peninsula, some even settling in areas not initially covered by conservation work.”
These naturally occurring settlements are those in Extremadura in Ortiga (nine animals) and Valdecañas (10). Also La Jara, which in 2023 joined Las Minas, Setefilla, Ibores, Río Sotillo, Valdecigüeñas, Guazurejos and Cornalvo as natural settlement areas for the species.
Life emphasises the “upward trend” in lynx populations, with dispersed movements from the different areas of stable presence, and extending over an undefined surface of the Iberian Peninsula.
During 2023, the Lynxconnect project released 34 lynx in reintroduction areas created in previous Life projects and at selected points.
As for mortality, 189 Iberian lynx died last year, one of the most detectable causes being road kill, which currently affect 7% of the total population, compared to 6% last year.
Source: LUSA
