Good news for one of the most emblematic species of our country and which once again gives the headlines full of hope, since a total of twelve Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) came first, out of 14 conceived, at the Iberian Lynx Breeding Center of El Acebuche, in Doñana (Huelva).
The center, managed by the Autonomous Organization of National Parks (OAPN), which depends on the Ministry of Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITERD), was responsible for raising these babies after they had gone through the critical period following their birth, which generally occurs between two and four months.
Preparing for the outing
After this stage in Doñana, they are preparing their release into the natural environment, as the OAPN reports to Europa Press. In total, 17 puppies have been born this year 2024 in the centres managed by the organisation, 13 females and four males. Thus, 12 of them are housed in the El Acebuche breeding centre and five in Zarza de Granadilla (Cáceres).
With them, there are already 292 specimens born in the OAPN centers that exceed this age since the birth of the first specimens in El Acebuche in 2005.
Suitable destinations
Currently, the 17 Iberian lynx have begun in Doñana the process of preparation for their future release into the wild, once the Advisory Group on Genetic and Demographic Aspects of the Breeding Program has selected the “most appropriate” destinations for each of them.
The new 2024 breeding season of the Iberian lynx has begun at the El Acebuche captive breeding center with the mating of seven animals, based on the primary objective of adequately managing genetic diversity of this endangered species. Thus, of the seven couples established, between February 28 and January 21, six of them had come into heat and copulated.
Hopeful litters
In this way, seven established couplesaccording to genetic priorities, There were two females that had never bred before no litters, like Sardina and Oleander and four experienced females: Narsil, Kolia, Parra and Juromenha, and one female, Macadamia, whose successful breeding was achieved for the first time during the 2023 breeding season after several years of reproductive failure.
Thus, Juromenha was the last female to have her pups behind the litters of Sardina (who had three, but only one survived), Kolia (two pups), Narsil (three pups) and Parra (four pups), while five pups were born at the Zarza de Granadilla center in two different litters and they all thrived.
Conservation program
In the Iberian lynx breeding center of El Acebuche, located in the Doñana Natural AreaThe ex situ conservation programme for the Iberian lynx began in late 2003. The first captive birth of this endangered feline species took place there in 2005.
Since then, as for the birthsThe figures have fluctuated over the years with only two in 2005, three in 2006 and six in 2017, with a rebound in 2008, 2011 and 2012, with 13 descendants, and new declines as in 2017 which, together, 2006 were the years with the lowest number of puppies (with four and three respectively). On the other hand, the years with the most births were 2015 (31), 2016 (27), 2018 (24) and 2021 (23).
In 2023, a total of 13 Iberian lynx pups (out of 17 conceived) were born in the El Acebuche Iberian Lynx Breeding Center in Doñanasix more than in 2022 (seven emerged), and represents the highest figure after the years 2008 and 2011, when 13 cubs also emerged, according to data published by the Autonomous Organization of National Parks (OAPN).
Last season, 14 couples were selected for copulation in the breeding centres Acebuche and Zarza de Granadilla (Cáceres) and, between the two centres, a total of 20 Iberian lynx emerged. 71% of the females became pregnant after oestrus and only two females, Nota in El Acebuche and Juno in Zarza de Granadilla, did not conceive any litter that year.
Lynx reproduction
The Iberian lynx is a semi-altricial species and completely dependent on maternal care for survival during their first weeks of life. Lactation in this species lasts until 65 days of age, after which the puppies feed almost exclusively on their main prey: the rabbit.
The Iberian Lynx It is a “very seasonal” species and “only has one heat per year”, which usually occurs in the first weeks of winter. From there, and with a gestation of 63 to 66 days, the different litters should be born that will continue to contribute to the recovery of this species.
The main function of the Iberian lynx breeding centers is to achieve good genetic management of the speciesA complex task given the low genetic diversity of this mammal, which is one of the least diverse species on the planet.
Hence the crosses between breeding specimens must be previously calculated in order to contribute to avoid inbreeding problems in the population.
Recovery Success
The Iberian lynx is a success story in the recovery and conservation of a species that has grown from less than 100 specimens in 2002 to more than 2,000 in 2024, with a view to expansion. towards new territories of Spain and Portugal.
From less than a hundred lynx in two centres in Andalusia in the 1990s, in 2023 2,021 specimens of the species have been recordeddistributed in 14 population centers (13 in Spain and one in Portugal).
The largest increase occurred in the period 2019-2023, from 855 to 2021 lynx, almost tripled the populationwith very pronounced growth of both breeding females and puppies.
Today, there are breeding populations of lynx in Andalusia, Castile-La Mancha, Extremadura and southern Portugalthe species having recently been reintroduced into the Region of Murcia.
