Iberian Lynx Recovers from Brink of Extinction in Spain and Portugal
The Iberian lynx, a species native to Spain and Portugal, has been reclassified from "endangered" to "vulnerable" on the global red list of threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This reclassification follows a significant conservation effort over the past two decades, involving the European Union, regional and national governments, wildlife NGOs, and local communities. The population of the Iberian lynx has increased from 94 individuals in 2002 to over 2,000 in the latest census, with the majority residing in Spain.
Key conservation strategies have included habitat restoration, reintroduction programs, and measures to increase the abundance of the lynx's primary prey, the wild rabbit. Despite these successes, the IUCN cautions that ongoing threats such as climate change, habitat loss, and disease outbreaks among rabbits and domestic animals could jeopardize the lynx's recovery. Continued vigilance and conservation efforts are deemed necessary to maintain and further the gains achieved thus far.
