Life+IBERLINCE makes an initial evaluation of the fire damage in areas where the Iberian Lynx is present

Specialists from the Ministry of Environment and Territorial Planning of the Regional Government of Andalusia assigned to the LIFE Iberlince project are carrying out an initial assessment of how the territories where the Iberian Lynx is present were affected by the fire that started last Friday in the Moguer area (Huelva).

Within the region affected by the Moguer fire, there are several areas where the Iberian lynx is present, which are essential for the conservation of the species since this is a valuable region for the western population centre.

Namely, there are three territorial females in this region, and two of their home ranges fall within the perimeter of the fire, while a third one seems to have had 50% of its surface affected, according to the first estimates. It is necessary to take into account that animals in this region are not radiolabelled, therefore specialists can only obtain information through camera traps.

In this regard, it should be noted that this estimate is very tentative, and it will be necessary to investigate the fire thoroughly to determine which areas were spared from the flames and the type of vegetation they feature, as well as assess their rabbit populations. The final damage evaluation in territories where the lynx is present can’t be established until the fire is extinguished and all control tasks are completed.

Specialists from the LIFE Iberlince project, led by the Ministry of Environment and Territorial Planning, are collaborating with the Captive Breeding Centre in El Acebuche, under the authority of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, which yesterday had to be partially vacated due to the threat of fire. Both specialists and veterinarians of the project are working on tracking specimens whose cages were opened and subsequently returning them to the centre.