PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Up until the 19th century, the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) could be found in all the regions of Spain and Portugal. Since then, and particularly in the last decades of the 20th century, its population and distribution area have suffered an alarming decline. The species is the most threatened carnivorous mammal in Europe. There are currently only two reproductive populations of Iberian lynx, both in Andalusia (Doñana-Aljarafe and Eastern Sierra Morena). This medium-sized feline (8-14 kg) lives in areas characterised by a mixture of dense woodland, Mediterranean scrub and pasture. It prospers in areas with an abundance of its main prey - rabbits - and where interference from humans is minimal. The main causes of its decline have been epidemics that have greatly reduced rabbit population, resulting in a lack of food and loss of habitat. LIFE projects have already worked to improve the conservation status of this species, improving knowledge and understanding of its needs, developing a captive breeding and release programme and developing rabbit populations. However, many challenges remain and the species is not yet safe.
OBJECTIVES
This transnational project (Spain-Portugal) aimed at restoring the historical distribution of the Iberian Lynx across areas of Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura (all in Spain) and Portugal. The project would work to reinforce numbers of the species in the existing populations, and establish new populations in areas identified as appropriate. The project would introduce individual animals both bred in captivity or captured elsewhere to increase the numbers of animals in the existing populations and increase the genetic diversity of these populations. It would also seek to increase their breeding and survival rates by continuing work to improve the habitat to favour the species and particularly to facilitate a quantifiable increase of connectivity between population cores through corridors. The project would continue to develop measures to improve the co-operation of relevant stakeholders in protecting the species, particularly landowners, hunters and road users. These combined actions seeked to decrease the mortality of the species from accidental road death, furtive hunting and pursuit and other negligent activities, including poisoning. The project would carefully identify areas with sufficient resources for the reintroduction of self-sustaining populations of lynx in Portugal, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura and Andalusia. It would then use habitat-improvement and threat-reduction measures and strategic release to try to establish four new Iberian lynx populations, each with five territorial females, in the most suitable of these.
RESULTS
The Iberlince project succeeded in recovering the historic distribution range of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Spain and Portugal, thanks to releases of lynx in new areas, habitat improvement, and close monitoring of lynx and wild rabbit prey populations. A key factor for the success of the project was direct social participation, especially through collaboration agreements with farm owners and hunters’ associations.
At the end of the project, the global population of Iberian lynx was more than 686 individuals, more than 160 of them being mature females. In 2017 there were 261 mature individuals, above the threshold for the IUCN to down-list the species to “vulnerable” (250). So, if this population size remains (and it is now expected to increase), the Iberian lynx category can be down-listed in 2022. The number of wild-born cubs increased year by year.
The project team created four new Iberian lynx subpopulations and consolidated a further four. The Iberian lynx population in Andalucía (Spain) increased around 38%, from 323 in 2011 to more than 445 in 2018. The Andalucía subpopulations’ distribution ranges increased more than 60%, from 1 019 km2 in 2011 to 1 631 km2 in 2018. The number of mature females increased from 75 in 2011 to 119 in 2018. The highest number of wild-born cubs observed, 132, occurred in 2017. Furthermore, Andújar-Cardeña, Guadalmellato and Guarrizas form a functional metapopulation, with genetic exchange between these subpopulations, and a total of 90 mature females and 190 mature individuals.
Three new specimens were released in Doñana-Aljarafe (two captive-born and one wild-born in Sierra Morena). Releases in all areas took into account genetic criteria to increase genetic variability. As a result, average heterozygosity of lynxes born in the Doñana-Aljarafe subpopulation (2008-2012) was 46% higher than those born pre-project (1998-2007), a trend that has continued. Five new reintroduction areas were selected using the Iberlince Protocol: Matachel and Ortigas in Extremadura, Montes de Toledo and Campo de Calatrava in Castilla-La Mancha (Spain) and Vale do Guadiana (Portugal); in four of these areas subpopulations were established according to the objective of five mature females.
The project team signed more than 300 collaboration agreements with managers and land owners covering over 266 000 ha within the Iberian lynx distribution range, including reintroduction areas. On this land, they implemented habitat improvements and reinforcements of wild rabbit populations. For example, the constructed of 15 800 refuges and more than 100 breeding enclosures for wild rabbits. In addition to habitat improvements (e.g. scrub clearance, grass sowing), more than 63 000 wild rabbits were released to reinforce wild populations and alleviate the effects of rabbit haemorrhagic disease. Other actions have reduced road-kills at identified black spots, though the total number of road-kills has continued to increase, and reduced habitat defragmentation due to asphalted roads.
The project team undertook a large-scale public awareness and information dissemination campaign, on the importance of Iberian lynx conservation and the project’s results. They published books and newsletters, produced videos, organised public activities that involved thousands of people, and established a popular website. The project was featured in over 5 000 press articles. A large knowledge base on the management and conservation of the Iberian lynx was also created.
Thanks to over 40 000 coordinates collected from Iberian lynx fitted with GPS collars, the beneficiaries developed models of habitat quality, landscape permeability and road-kill risks, and connection corridors on which to focus future conservation efforts. The project team drafted conservation measures to include in Management Plans of Natura 2000 sites where the Iberian lynx is present. The recovery of the historical distribution of Iberian lynx has provided Natura 2000 sites with added value, as the species is a key element of these ecosystems. Project actions in Natura 2000 network sites have also had a positive impact on a range of other protected carnivores and birds of prey, such as Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti), black vulture (Aegypius monachus), and Bonelli’s eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus).
The presence of the Iberian lynx, which is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, can also provide socio-economic benefits. Work to improve habitat prior to the release of Iberian lynx is usually undertaken by local workers, newly-present lynx populations attract tourists, and the lynx can be used to promote local craft products and services. Previously unknown locations for visitors, such as Andújar, are now becoming wildlife tourist destinations, to the benefit of the local economies.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).
