Two Iberian lynx cubs have been born in Murcia, the first since the reintroduction programme of the large cat began in the region at the beginning of 2023.
“This is a historic moment in the conservation of this emblematic species, which comes just two years after the scheme began in the highlands of Lorca,” said a regional government spokesperson.
“It shows that the area chosen has ideal conditions for the lynx to reproduce.”
The mother, named Urtsu, was introduced in the area in February last year, weighing 7.6 kilos.
She had been raised at the breeding-in-captivity centre at Zarza de Granadilla in the province of Cáceres as part of the Life LynxConnect project.
At the turn of the millennium there were less than 50 of these native cats left in Spain and the Iberian lynx was facing extinction.
However, the huge conservation effort which has taken place over the last 25 years has seen the population rise to 2,400.
According to the Murcia government, the latest census recorded 15 lynxes in the region.
Murcia joined the Life LynxConnect programme back in 2012 and studies were carried out to find the ideal place to reintroduce the wild cat.
The highlands area of Lorca was identified and a zone measuring 22,500 hectares was declared to be apt to receive them in December, 2022.
Several months later the first animals were released and the fledgling population in Murcia has managed in a short time to reach the very important milestone of successfully reproducing.
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