Three new animals reinforce core Mértola

Under the Iberlince Project, funded by the Community program, three lynxes will be released today Friday, February 19, in Mértola. A male, Mel, and two females Mesquita and Malva. These names were elected by the local people, in honour to the local heritage. These animals were all born in the spring of 2015, that’s the reason to identify their names starting with the letter "M".

This time, in addition to the adoption of names of natural vegetation as in the case of beneficial Malva, one of the females is identified by a symbolic name in the county - Mesquita. Mel, in turn, refers to the traditional product of the regions that have preserved the Mediterranean scrub diversified areas, natural habitat of the Iberian lynx, and Mértola. Beekeeping is an important activity in the region since ancient times, and today meets ancestors and new technical and scientific knowledge for better quality production of honey and other bee products.

The three lynxes will be released by the method of "last drop" in adapting surrounded, in addition to the distribution of lynx already living in the area since 2015. The animals they are all equipped with a transmitter that allows monitoring and surveillance movements on the floor. The event will be attended by the Secretary of State for Land Planning and Conservation of Nature and with the participation of residents, including students from local schools.

The project "Recovery of the historical range of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Spain and Portugal (LIFE+10/NAT/ES/000570) has joined forces with institutional partners and civil society to achieve the return of the species to different areas of the Iberian Peninsula constitute new opportunities to revitalize these areas. The lynx is now an emblem species and also a key species in ecosystems. Energy conservation benefits many other wild species and human activities that combine the use and conservation of natural habitats. Reintroduction is a long-term program that requires support and reinforcement animals regulate society.