Ka’s journey

In the early days of this September technicians of the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, attached to the Life+Iberlince Project they received the notice of a sighting of an example of the Iberian lynx in the Sierra Arana, province of Granada.

Once confirmed the sighting and identified the animal by camera trapping techniques, it was found that it was a female two years aged, released in the reintroduction area of Guadalmellato, Cordoba, called Ka. This female was released in 2014 as part of the program set loose in the area. Copies are currently selected to release reintroduction areas in Sierra Morena, from a genetic point of view so that the maximum genetic variability of the new population is achieved.

After its releasement, Ka spent some time in the area of release and subsequently traveled to Granada. This shift would show how to connect different lynx populations, one of the aims of the Life+Iberlince Project.

The area in which the female is located is, in principle, a suitable habitat and acceptable densities rabbit main prey of lynx, and could become a potential area for reintroduction of lynx if it fulfills all the necessary requirements. They have already began to make evaluations, previous selection using protocols established by the Life+Iberlince, to determine the densities of rabbit, habitat quality, social support and therefore abuses and threats from other causes. With the result of the study of these parameters you decide whether we can consider this area for future reintroduction of the Iberian lynx in Granada Hills.

The genetic importance for the female population center of Guadalmellato and the presence of the A308 road that splits the area and has a very high density of traffic, has caused the technicians of the Ministry of Environment and responsible for Project Management have decided his capture and transfer back to Gudalmellato.

The passage of this female for the province of Granada opens a future for the species in this province.