Environment starts next week the first releases of the year in Andalusia of examples of Iberian lynx

The Board will release eight copies during 2017 in the areas of reintroduction of Guarrizas and Guadalmellato to reinforce the populations of the species

The Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning will begin this week in Guarrizas (Jaén) the first releases of Iberian lynx to the natural environment, in an event that will be attended by the Minister of the industry, José Fiscal. Specifically, between January and April of this year, eight specimens, 6 females and 2 males, will be released in the reintroduction areas of Guarrizas (Jaén) and Guadalmellato (Córdoba), with the aim of reinforcing the populations of this Species in these regions. It should be noted that in each of these points will be released three females and one male, selected according to the genetic needs of each zone.

This initiative is developed within the framework of Life+IBERLINCE project, coordinated and led by the Andalusian Government, which includes a series of measures to ensure the survival of the species in the Andalusian territory and its reintroduction in other areas of the Iberian Peninsula. This program involves more than 25 partners, including administrations, companies, associations and non-governmental organizations.

It should be noted that in the areas of Guarrizas and Guadalmellato, half of the specimens will be released than in other reintroduction areas of the LIFE+IBERLINCE project (Vale do Guadiana, Matachel Valley, Montes de Toledo and Sierra Morena Oriental). Valleys are already constituted lynx populations, which are also connected with the areas of historical presence of Andújar-Cardeña. In total in 2017 will be released in all these areas, including the Andalusian, 40 Iberian lynxes.

Guarrizas and Guadalmellato

The three females that will be released in Guadalmellato are Noa (daughter of Hubara and Hache), Niagara (daughter of Fábula and Juncabalejo), puppy number 2 of the Coscoja litter (which has not yet been named); While the male, from the captive breeding center of Granadilla (Cáceres), responds to the name of Vessel (son of Jarilla and Gazpacho).

In the area of Guarrizas will be released the females Nambroca (daughter of Fábula and Juncabalejo), from Snow (which has been baptized by the school children of La Carolina), from the Olivilla breeding center in Jaén, and Of Nebraska (to which citizens have named it through the initiative #BautizaUnLince developed by Iberlince in social networks), coming from the breeding center of Silves, in Portugal. The male specimen will be Nacar (son of Fárfara and Helio) coming from the breeding center of Granadilla.

The names of the Iberian lynx that will be released in 2017 in the different areas of reintroduction have been chosen through school competitions, citizen proposals or by the teams that work on the conservation of the species. In this way, it is intended to involve the public in this project of conservation and reintroduction of the feline.

It should be recalled that since 2009, in which the first reintroductions were made in Andalusia, a total of 176 specimens have been released in the Iberian Peninsula, to which another 40 will be added this year. Support from the owners of farms, managers, hunters, hunting grounds and the population in general.