It won’t be long now before the Silves-based Iberian Lynx reproduction centre releases an unspecified number of wild cats back into the wild.
A government announcement made this week said: “We are studying different locations in Portugal, and choosing the best one.”
The plan is to release the lynx during the first half of 2014.
Secretary of State for regional planning and nature conservation, Miguel Castro Neto, said of the Silves project and its “unexpectedly high” success in breeding lynx in captivity, that this is “something Portugal can be proud of”.
The release of the Iberian lynx represents a new step forward in efforts to prevent the extinction of this critically endangered species.
Castro Neto named the Alentejo – specifically the protected area of Mourão/Moura/Barrancos – as the most likely region for the release because it is considered an area that fulfils all the necessary requirements.
He explained how the new location must offer animals a sufficient supply of food – which, in this case means enough wild rabbits.
Castro Neto added that it is still not decided how many lynx will be released as the decision will depend on the condition that the animals are in and into which area they will are finally released.
Meanwhile, the ICNF (institute for nature and forest conservation) reveals that 19 Iberian lynx have already been released into the wild in Andalusia – all of them born in captivity in breeding centres located in Portugal and Spain.
