2016 overview: A good year for the Life+IBERLINCE Project

If the news of 2015 was that the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (UICN) has reclassified the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) from "in critical danger" to "in danger", after evaluating the 77,340 species included in the List Red that elaborates this organism, this 2016 we are a point closer that the species continues descending of category of threat. The UICN downgraded the threat category of the species to the population data for 2012. At that time the number of mature individuals, a parameter considered by the UICN Red List (https://portals.UICN.org/library/Node/10316) had surpassed 50 mature individuals. The next step will be to move more than 250 mature individuals and keep that figure for at least 5 years.

The Junta de Andalucía, as coordinating partners of the Project has indicated that the final census of 2016 has not yet been completed but expects to be closed with a new increase estimated at around 440 individuals. Last year, the total lynx population was 404.

Populations of reintroduction areas are expected to increase. In 2015 in all of them - Montes de Toledo, South Badajoz, Sierra Morena Oriental and Portugal - have been born young. The population that has grown the most this year is Montes de Toledo, with 14 puppies. Adding to these the pups born in the two Andalusian areas of Guarrizas and Guadalmellato will be the best possible census for a species that has been in critical danger of extinction.

The actions carried out by the Ministry of Development of the Andalusian Government have resulted in the number of lynx abuses declining slightly in Andalusia during 2016, although this number could be reduced when the Ministry of Public Works undertakes work on the A- 4 and on the N-420.

With a view to 2017, the Life+IBERLINCE Project partners seek to consolidate the new populations initiated and work on their connectivity with each other and with the two stable populations of Andalusia.

Among the most worrying aspects for the recovery of the species sees the situation of rabbits suffering the scourge of hemorrhagic disease, with no solution at this time. This disease continues to control the growth of rabbit populations.

The Life+IBERLINCE Project commission at the last meeting held in Seville on November 15 of last year proposed to study new zones, one in Extremadura, in the Ortiga river and another in Granada and it was considered very interesting to start working as well in other Autonomous Communities that still maintain good populations of rabbit.

In the same commission, the releases were decided for 2017. 8 individuals, 4 males and 4 females, will be released in each of the reintroduction areas located in Portugal (Vale do Guadiana, Mértola) and Spain (Matachel Valley, Badajoz; Of Toledo, Toledo, Sierra Morena Oriental, Ciudad Real and 4 copies of the areas of Guadalmellato, Córdoba and Guarrizas, Jaén. The releases will begin in the months of January / February 2017.