By: ELOISE WALTON
The next mammal to become extinct
A TEAM from Aguas do Algarve showed The Resident the future site where the new Iberian lynx captive reproduction centre will be located including plans detailing what the centre will look like and how the animals will be cared for.
A sheltered valley in the hills of Herdade das Santinhas, near the Arade dam in the county of Silves will host the new reproduction centre. Advertising for building contract proposals began on August 15 and lasts until October, when all of the proposals will be analysed.
Artur Ribeiro, Administrator of Aguas do Algarve told The Resident: “We expect the construction to start in January and be concluded by December 2008. This means that the first animals should arrive in January 2009. We have very tight deadlines for this
 The new lynx reproduction centre will be located in the valley below, hidden away from view near the Arade dam |
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project, but so far we have completed every task on time.”
When completed, the new reproduction centre, the first of its kind in Portugal, will be able to house 16 Iberian Lynxes, donated by the reproduction centre at Doñana Park, Andalucía in Spain.
Marisa Viriato, the environmental co-ordinator at Aguas do Algarve, said: “We are excited to have this project in Portugal because the lynx has not been seen here in the wild for several years. It is the most endangered mammal on the planet. Now we will truly be able to call this an Iberian project.”
As Iberian lynxes are very territorial animals, a difference of only 50cm in ground height is enough to make one more dominant over the others because of its superior position. This can affect breeding, as the lynx that is on higher ground will rarely descend to find a partner.
Sheltered
Marisa Viriato said: “To combat this problem, the entire valley where the breeding centre is due to be constructed will be flattened. Four hectares of trees will also be felled to allow for the construction but a further 10 hectares will be replanted with indigenous species to counteract the damage.”
Each 1200m2 cage will be fenced around and above to prevent birds of prey attacking the cubs. There will be trees and sheltered areas as well as live prey for the environment to be as close to reality as possible.
For the lynx to mate, there will be a two gate system whereby the pair will be introduced to each other gradually. A CCTV system will enable 24 hour monitoring of the animals to minimise human contact.
Females usually have two or three cubs once a year. These will be separated after only a few weeks because the stronger one usually kills the weaker one. An incubation centre will also be constructed that will help very young cubs to survive. “A team of 12 full time employees will work at the centre when it is complete. We have already recruited a veterinary surgeon who is experienced in working with the lynx and has worked at the Doñana Park,” said Artur Ribeiro adding, “Because of the nature of this project, once the animals arrive, no visitors will be allowed on the site.”
Artur Ribeiro said he hopes that by 2015 there will be a large enough population of lynx from the breeding centres in Spain and Portugal to allow a population to be re-introduced into a prepared habitat in the wild.
The Iberian Lynx
The Iberian Lynx is the most endangered of the world’s 36 cats, and the next mammal in line for extinction. Currently only around 250 remain in Iberia, divided mainly between two breeding populations in Spain.
An Iberian Lynx is around twice the size of a domestic cat but with longer legs. In adulthood, these can weigh up to 15kg, with a characteristic bob tail and pointed ears topped by strands of hair.
Females usually breed once a year, and give birth to an average of three cubs of which one will usually die within 10 months. Young lynxes abandon their birth place at around 18 months, and take some six months to find their own territory, typically 10 to 20 km away.
In modern times, this period of dispersion has proved fatal. Around 50 per cent die because of human activity including road accidents, drowning in wells and snares.
Adult lynxes defend a territory of four km2 against individuals of the same sex, though when rabbits are plentiful this area may be much smaller. Interactions between individuals are limited to brief mating and the mother-cub relationship.
Archaeological findings from 4500 to 1100 BP, before the present day, indicate that the lynx was present and moderately common, always in association with rabbits, throughout the Iberian Peninsula. The animal’s strength and prowess was recognised by Rome, which formed a legion exclusively made up of Iberian soldiers whose breastplates and standard were emblazed with the image of a lynx.
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