There are two more Iberian Lynx in Natural Park “Vale do Guadiana”

Portugal released another two Iberian lynx in the Guadiana Natural Park in Mértola. After the first Iberian Lynx - Katmandu e Jacarandá - have left the fenced area, where they were since December 16th. They are fully integrated in nature. Now it is the turn of the female named Kayakweru and the male named Kempo occupy the two acres that will be used to adapt themselves to the wild habitat.

Kayakweru was born in the National Center for Reproduction of the Iberian Lynx in Silves and Kempo came from Doñana, Spain. The Lynx are now in a “soft release” fenced area, built for the first reintroduction, which allow animals transition from life in captivity to life in natural habitat, on principle it will be facilitated by lanes and tracks left by their predecessors in the territory. The adaptation period of the Lynx should be at least 20 days, however, the final length will always depends on the behavior of animals in the fenced area.

The ICNF considers that this new reintroduction of Iberian lynx is another step in the national and Iberian commitment to reversing the extinction of this species in its natural habitat.

Jacarandá and Kathmandu left this week to explore the area surrounding the fenced area, having already explored remote areas of the property surrounded. Their behavior, in complete freedom, will be daily accompanied by the ICNF - Nature and Forestry Conservation Institute field team, confirming a general pattern of behavior for a newly released animal.

The local community involvement in this process is critical because they are who daily monitorize these lynx. It is therefore necessary that people know the different aspects of the reintroduction of the species and value it, as a great opportunity to raise the importance of the territories and support their ecological and environmental management.