Perhaps the Iberian lynx ( Lynx pardinus ) is one of the most charismatic felines in Europe. And yet, for decades it was considered an undesirable animal, at the mercy of the excesses of indiscriminate hunting, until it almost became extinct. Today, fortunately, and thanks to the efforts of scientists, technicians and managers , the species is slowly but steadily recovering; although some threats remain that put their survival as a species at risk.
The threats of the Iberian lynx
This beautiful and iconic feline, flagship species and symbol of conservation in Spain , presents serious threats, especially of anthropogenic origin.
Among the main activities responsible for the decline of this species was hunting. The Iberian lynx was included in the infamous category of ” vermin ” since the Hunting Law of May 16, 1902 came into force until its repeal in 1970. Said law not only allowed the elimination of the lynx at any time of the year and with any trap or poison, but even the Town Councils encouraged them to do so, organized raids and paid rewards.
Today, those same administrations are the ones that prohibit their hunting and protect their conservation, although poachers continue to illegally hunt these animals.
But hunting is not the only risk for the Iberian lynx. Since hunting was prohibited, the main cause of mortality is being run over . Every year, several animals die on our roads. Other important threats are changes in the structure of the habitat, the expansion of urbanized areas or climate change .
Among the biological risks, diseases are also an emerging problem for lynx populations. Pathologies such as myxomatosis directly affect their main prey, rabbits. On the other hand, the presence of colonies of feral cats is a vector of diseases such as feline leukemia , which caused an epidemic in Doñana lynxes in 2007. In addition, such scarce populations, with very few individuals in each group, generates a loss of genetic variability that can lead to accumulation of inbreeding.
They say that cats have nine lives. It may be true, but in this case,
when at the beginning of the 20th century attention was drawn to their situation,
the Iberian lynx must have already spent the first six.
Miguel Delibes, “The last life of the Iberian lynx”.
danger levels
The International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) includes several levels of risk in its red list of threatened species, depending on the status of the species and the forecasts that can be made about them. There are seven risk levels : two low risk, three threatened, and two extinct. They are classified as follows, from lowest to highest risk.
- Least Concern , for species that are not considered to be at risk of extinction.
- Near Threatened , for those that present certain indicators that are approaching a state of significant threat.
- Vulnerable , for those with a real, but low, threat level.
- Endangered , for species that show a moderate level of threat.
- Critically endangered , for those that are seriously threatened.
- Extinct in the wild , for those that only have known living specimens in captivity
- Extinct , for which no living specimens are known.
In addition to these categories, the IUCN contemplates two categories of uncertainty; one for species not evaluated, and another for those that, after evaluating them, have not found sufficient data to be classified in any of the categories.
The IUCN listed the Iberian lynx as an endangered species in 1986 . Entering the 21st century, in 2002, its state was so extreme that it was classified as a critically endangered species , the highest that the institution contemplates for non-extinct animals. However, and as a result of numerous scientific, technical and management investigations and efforts, it was found that its population was recovering and in 2015 it was once again classified as an endangered species – the previous category.
Probably on several occasions the Iberian lynx has been on the verge of extinction.
He has come this far, however, and perhaps this was his last chance.
Miguel Delibes, “The last life of the Iberian lynx”.
Increasing population, reducing risk
Despite the inaction of many administrations for long periods of time, in recent decades, thanks to the efforts of scientists, technicians and managers to conserve the Iberian lynx and prevent its extinction, the population has been increasing very significantly.
In the year 2020, a population of 1,111 individuals was recorded in freedom , with 414 puppies born that same year. And, from time to time, a female gives us good news by showing us, through the cameras that the research teams have installed to monitor her activity, how she gives birth to a new litter. The 2020 census saw an increase of 30% compared to the 2019 census, and 10 times higher than 20 years ago .
However, he is not out of the woods yet . The aforementioned impacts, such as roadkill or low genetic variability, can put populations at risk. The success represented by this recovery is only the beginning of a process that still has decades to go to recover the most emblematic feline of the Iberian Peninsula .
References:
Calzada, J. et al. 2010. Iberian lynx: legal aspects for the conservation of the species. SECEM.
IUCN. 2001. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1. IUCN Species Survival Commission.
Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge et al. 2020. Iberian lynx census.
Palomares, F. et al. 2011. Assessment of the conservation efforts to prevent extinction of the Iberian lynx. Conservation Biology: The Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology, 25(1), 4-8. DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01607.x
Rodriguez, A. et al. 2015. Lynx pardinus (e. T12520A174111773; The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species). International Union for Conservation of Nature.
