Andalusia gives in two iberian-lynx to Parque Selwo Aventura

The County of Andalusia, by the Consejería de Medio Ambiente y Ordenación del Territorio, has given two iberlian-lynx (lynx pardinus) specimens to the Parque Selwo Aventura, within environmental education purposes.

The regional government delegate in Malaga, José Luis Ruiz Espejo, who attended the transfer ceremony , highlighted that the two lynxes, both born three years ago, come from the breeding center La Olivilla (Jaén) from the County of Andalusia and can not be returned to the wild or genetically contribute to the captive breeding program.

For this reason, and after requesting Selwo, there are now more specimens of lynx and they have given the other two to be covered "with the aim of contributing to the protection, conservation and awareness of society as well as the disclosure about situation and problems of the species", as explained Ruiz Espejo, who was accompanied by the territorial delegate of the Environment, Adolfo Moreno, the regional coordinator of Lynx Recovery Program (Life+Iberlince project), Miguel Angel Simon Mata, and Zoology CEO of Parques Reunidos group to which it belongs Selwo, Jesus Fernandez.

The County of Andalusia is integrated into the Breeding Plan of Iberian-lynx, which includes Spain and Portugal, and whose objectives are to establish a stock of lynx in captivity able to sustain and produce suitable animals for reintroduction, with the dual purpose of ensure the survival of the specie while providing animals fit to bolster wild populations, increase their genetic viability or recreate extinct populations.

The specimens transferred are:

JAVO: a male who was born on March 15, 2012, and had as parents Barraca and Endrino, it was the first litter of the female Barraca, prepared for reintroduction into the wild. Jason and Jabalcuz, Javo littermates were freed into the wild for genetic reinforcement population just a year old. The first was reintroduced in the population Guarrizas River Valley, where the adaptation was smooth. The second one was also reintroduced in Guarrizas.

JUDIA: a female born on March 27, 2012, having Coscoja and Candiles as parents. Its littermates, Juncia and Juglans, were incorporated into the captive breeding program of the Iberian-lynx as future breeders for their genetic importance.

The litter of the following year, it was released into the wild in 2014 for genetic enhancement and population reinforcement in Guarrizas River Valley.

The two of them will be in Selwo, in the lynx habitat, a specially designed and prepared place for these animals.

The centers who want to welcome the lynx left over from the breeding program, it is only asked infrastructure that meet the kind of well-being and an environmental education program to disseminate the Iberian program of conservation and restoration of Iberian-lynx.

Before the assignment, there were several visits to SELWO by the Iberian Lynx Conservation Program team. During these visits was carried out a detailed inspection of the whole place. Facilities for both exterior and interior, kitchen, building safety, staff qualifications, veterinary clinic and outreach program. It was all reviewed and each case has been adapted to its new tenants.