Releases of Iberian lynx specimens begin in Extremadura

Lynx releases began this week in Extremadura, in the Matachel reintroduction area.

On Tuesday afternoon, we proceeded to the release of "Ogum" by hard release (directly in the wild). Ogum is a male from the Captive Breeding Center of Silves, Portugal.

The main goal of these releases is to reinforce the lynx population in Extremadura, as well as guarantee essential genetic variability within Extremadura’s lynx population, now reaching 37 lynxes with this new specimen.

Lynxes released in 2018 will be equipped with GPS tracking, which will allow for their movements and use of the territory to be monitored, thus providing important information on the species’ dispersal habits, as well as possible connection areas with other populations on the peninsula.

Lynx reintroduction actions in Extremadura started in 2014 as part of the Life+lberlince project for the recovery of the historical distribution of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Spain and Portugal.

Life+lberlince is a transnational project, co-financed 61.57 percent by the European Union, and coordinated by the Regional Government of Andalusia. It also involves the communities of Andalusia, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and Murcia participate; and collaborates with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environmentand; the environmental organizations CBD-Habitat, VVWF, Secem and Adenex; the hunting associations Aproca and Andalusian Hunting Federation; and the private companies Agroforex, Fomecam and Acajú.

We emphatically thank estate owners; the Extremadura Hunting Federation; and various administrations such as the Civil Guard - SEPRONA, local councils, Provincial Councils, the Ministries of Education and Employment, and Economy and Infrastructures; Environmental agents; and the University of Extremadura (UEx) for yet another year of successful collaboration.