The history of Lorca

Lorca, an old female lynx was captured by technicians and veterinarians of the Andalusian attached to Life+Iberlince Project on the last 15/09/16 in an area in the north of the A-4 in Jaen. It was captured by hand, and found it was very malnourished, extremely weak and disoriented. The check was performed that found high levels of several species of parasites and infection by several viruses. The issue was taken to the recovery center Laundering (Granada), where it was hospitalized and the treatment of some conditions was attempted. After four days the animal stopped eating and its condition worsened significantly. Given the enormous suffering it had, and it was impossible to re-release the animal or to play it, they decided to end its suffering by humane euthanasia on the 24th of September. It was a difficult and very consensual decision, and took in grounds that a senile animal that had spent a long life in the field long suffering in captivity did not deserve to recover when the odds were so low.

This female was detected by the CBD-Habitat Foundation for the first time in January 2002, as an adult, in a farm Jándula Valley (Sierra de Andújar, Jaén). Therefore, it could reach more than 15 or 16 years. In those years it shared with his mother country (Nuria), historical female thin spots that sometimes it resembled a lynx.

In 2005 Nuria "gave" the territory to Lorca, and starred in the following years large dispersions. First occupied a nearby "pastures", then he moved to the area Guarrizas (he was a pioneer of the reintroduction in this area), and returned to Jándula. From there Nuria was a great traveler and reached Cazorla, Segura and Las Sierras Villas. Then it returned back to Guarrizas, staged another trip to Cazorla, and reached the Sierra del Castril, on the border with Granada. Guarrizas finally returned to where he should end its days with advanced age.

Lorca meanwhile ran the territory of his mother, and had at least 4 litters with 7 puppies, one female named Ratchet (2006). This female Lorca shared the territory a few years (as did its mother with her, another example of double territories) until recent years began dispersing movements, partly unknown. However in December last year was detected in its former territory, and we can imagine that shared some moments with Ratchet, the current resident of the territory of its mother and grandmother.