The importance of Durillo in the conservation of the Iberian lynx

Durillo died last January 12 because of respiratory failure at its almost 10 years aged, thus depleting its extra life. The lynx's seventh life had already ended in 2012, when at age 5 it lost its right hind limb supposedly in a stump (news). The bad and illegal practices to try an inviable control of predators finished the wildlife of this beautiful example of Iberian lynx; Although the perpetrator failed in ending the contribution of this male in the conservation of its own species.

Durillo did not have much luck as a player in the field. Only known with one girlfriend, Viana, that managed to get forward to 5 cubs of this male in two different layers. There are still 3 of them (two females and one male) that continue to transmit the Durillo genes to the new generations of Doñana lynxes.

But Durillo's extra life was more successful. And is that, despite its limb of less, in its stage in the Exsitu Program could conquer three different females and to spawn 4 cubs with each one.

Six of these descendants have been released in new areas of reintroduction, becoming pioneering individuals founding new populations.

Currently, its last 4 cubs born in 2016 are being trained for this year's reintroductions and can continue to contribute to the recovery of the historic distribution of the lynx.

Durillo was about to disappear in 2012, and yet it had to realize the most important mission of its life. This specimen has been one of the main contributions of Doñana genes to the Exsitu Program and to the reintroductions of recent years. Thanks to exemplars like Durillo, the Iberian lynx is now a little less threatened.