Iberlince, founding member of the Small Wild Cat Network

The network, created during the Small Wild Cat Conservation Summit, was born as a platform to exchange experiences and collaborate in the conservation of small wild cats

The Life+Iberlince project, along with experts and organizations from around the world, advocated for the creation of the 'Small Wild Cat Network', a network whose common goal is the preservation of small wild cat species, and which has been created during the Small Wild Cat Conservation Summit held from September 11th to the 14th at the Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in the United Kingdom. It was attended by specialists, biologists and conservationists from Chile, Peru, Brazil, the United States, Scotland, England, Germany, France, Uganda, Iran, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Spain, representing a total of 27 small wild cats species from South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

The 'Small Wild Cat Network' was launched as a platform on which members can exchange experiences and knowledge, and through which they can stimulate cooperation and endorse actions and projects that share a common goal, the preservation of these species of small wild cats, among which is the Iberian lynx (lynx pardinus).

Although most species of small wild cats require specific actions, there are currently no conservation strategies concerning them, as shown at the Port Lympne meeting. "Wherever they inhabit, they’re facing the loss of their natural habitats, depletion of their dietary base, and a high mortality rate largely due to human action," said Angie Appel of the Wild Cat Network, organizer of the Small Wild Cat Conservation Summit.

At the meeting, the Life+Iberlince project was represented by its director, Miguel Ángel Simón, who highlighted how the Iberian lynx was on the verge of extinction at the beginning of this century and how, thanks to actions carried out through the different LIFE projects, the species’ threat level has been lowered to 'endangered', and the current objective is to lower the level of risk even more over the next decade until it is considered vulnerable.

"We are convinced that the Small Wild Cat Network is a huge step in the conservation of small cats," said Miguel Ángel Simón and Luis Barrios, another Iberlince representative present at the United Kingdom forum.