'Omiri' and 'Ocelada', first two lynxes released in 2018 in Ciudad Real

Yesterday, 'Omiri' and 'Ocelada', an Iberian lynx male and female born in captive breeding centres, became the first specimens of the species’ to be released in the Ciudad Real province.

'Omiri' and 'Ocelada' are part of the eleven specimens expected to be released this year in the community, five of which will take place in the Eastern Sierra Morena reintroduction area, in the Ciudad Real province, and the other six in the Montes de Toledo area, in the Toledo province.

The release of both specimens, who are just over a year old, took place at the 'Los Cotillos' estate, located in the Almuradiel municipality (Ciudad Real).

'Omiri', from the Silves Captive Breeding Centre (Portugal), is the son of 'Era' and 'Fado', whereas 'Ocelada', daughter of 'Estela' and 'Galeno', comes from the Granadilla Captive Breeding Centre (Cáceres).

The release of these specimens was accompanied by snow, and took place in the presence of fifty people, including forest rangers, Life+Iberlince project directors and specialists, staff from captive breeding centres for lynxes, hunting estate owners and residents of Almuradiel.

The release was also attended by the provincial delegate for the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development, Prado Amores, who addressed the media and praised the regional government's commitment to consolidate the recovery of the region’s emblematic species.

In this regard, the delegate assured that the results of the Life+Iberlince project were "very positive", considering the births of new lynx litters in the wild that occurred over the past two years following the release of specimens bred in captivity.

Amores explained that this year's eleven releases in the community "bolster" lynx populations in areas where they have been reintroduced, whence they will start colonizing new territories.

With the release of these two new specimens, the Life+Iberlince project has now released 61 Iberian lynx specimens born in captivity since 2014, in Castilla-La Mancha.

The development of the Life+Iberlince program for the reintroduction of the Iberian lynx in areas where it was traditionally present, and from which the species eventually disappeared, has allowed for some of the reintroduced females to give birth in the wild during the last two breeding seasons.

Over this period, a total of 49 cubs were born in the region, 30 of which in the last year alone, consolidating a significant number of territorial females; seven in Montes de Toledo and five in Eastern Sierra Morena, in Ciudad Real.

The next release of new lynx specimens is scheduled for the 14th, when 'Opio' and 'Oveja' will be set free, a male and female born at the Granadilla breeding centre (Cáceres), who will strengthen the Eastern Sierra Morena population.