Last public release this year, in the core of Mértola

Yesterday, May 23, 2017, a public release of an Iberian lynx female joined the population nucleus of the species in the municipality of Mértola.

The lynx, named after the letter "N", like all born in 2016, comes from the Reproduction Center of Acebuche in Andalusia. It was liberated in the Iberian lynx population center of the Guadiana Valley in a loose one realized in the estate of the Romeiras, parish of S. João dos Caldeireiros. This was the last release of lynx this year and was attended by the Secretary of State for Land Planning and Nature Conservation and the Secretary of State for Forestry and Rural Development and public participation.

With this releasing, it contributes to the fundamental population reinforcement of consolidating a future lynx population in the Guadiana Valley that is viable in the long term and contributes to reduce the risk of extinction of the species. The public releases have been assiduous presence of the local population of Mértola revealing the interest and social support to the project. An auscultation to key actors held prior to the reintroduction revealed the existence of some contestation, but today the lynx is already a territorial emblem of the county visible in local t-shirts and products.

The Guadiana Valley has eight females and four males with stabilized territories and five young people: Navarro, Neblina, Nógado, Nossa and Nuvem already born in 2016 in the natural environment in Mértola. Also confirmed this year are 9 puppies with about 3 months aged that begin in the exploitation of the territories of the parents. These new animals are followed by photo-trapping allowing non-invasive monitoring.

The occurrence of reproduction for the second consecutive year and the high wild rabbit densities measured by the seasonal census confirm the suitability of this area of the county of Mértola to accommodate a population of Iberian lynx.

The reintroduction of the Iberian lynx is part of the LIFE Iberlince project (LIFE+10/NAT/ES/000570), under which collaboration agreements have been established in the municipalities of Mértola and Serpa. Being an essential condition for the development of the process, the areas contracted with owners and managers of hunting areas total about 20 thousand hectares.

The Iberian lynx conservation means the conservation of Mediterranean ecosystems and where balanced predators coexist as well as sustainable human activities.