The Junta de Andalucía announced the birth of the first Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in the Sierra Arana reintroduction zone, in the province of Granada.
This is the excellent news and full of hope which was announced by the Minister of Sustainable Development and Environment of the Government of Andalusia, Catalina García, in collaboration with the territorial delegate in Granada, Manuel Francisco García.
“This is good news that reaffirms the possibilities of this area of the Sierra Granada, where in just two years since the start of the releases, with a total of 24 copies releasedthe first positive results are starting to be visible,” said the advisor.
Special follow-up
Catalina García explained that “since June 24, special surveillance has been carried out on a female, called Grapefruitwhich was released into the area in 2023, after the GPS collar that he indicated that it was fixed at a point for a period which, as is usual in these cases, was unusually long.
“This circumstance – underlined the advisor – has already made experts think that it could be a birthThe technical team of the LIFE+ LYNXCONNECT project therefore began to monitor Toranja’s behavior in more detail.
In this sense, he detailed that to monitor the lynx, proceeded with the installation of camera traps in the area and intensive surveillance was activated to check the movements that this female was making, detecting that, at the beginning of September, she was moving again with a certain normality until the cameras captured the first images of Toranja with two cubs .
two males
The Andalusian head of Sustainable Development and Environment clarified that these are two male lynxes, now four to five months old, who “of course, still do not have a name”, assured that “from today, They normally move alongside their mother in this areawhich is certainly extraordinary news.
García emphasized that this is positive because, on the one hand, “we continue to take steps in the recovery of the species and, as it cannot be otherwise, we are lucky because Coordinated actions carried out in reintroduction areas are bearing fruitand, on the other hand, we are facing a clear sign that the Sierra Arana has the appropriate conditions for Iberian lynxes to not only adapt, but also reproduce in complete freedom.
Likewise, the official insisted that “in a very short time it has been demonstrated that this area of the Sierra de Granada, which includes the northern foothills of the Sierra Arana, the mountains of El Rayo, El Pozuelo , El Campanario and Las Cabras, as well as part of the Cubillas Valley, are an ideal place to house the species“.
Adaptation and survival
“Since its release, Toranja has demonstrated excellent adaptation to the natural environment. Her ability to survive and reproduce freely “This strengthens the hope that this area can become a thriving refuge for the lynx,” said the councilor.
Thus, the head of Sustainable Development and the Environment highlighted the joint effort of the different institutions, organizations and entities involved in achieving these results.
More hope for the species
“The birth of these two puppies is the result of a well-coordinated strategy that involves both the public administration as well as scientists, environmental defenders and a very important link, hunterswith whom a close relationship is maintained for management in reintroduction areas. An essential networking effort to ensure the survival of the Iberian lynx,” he added.
Furthermore, after the birth of the two puppies, he expressed that “we must value the Ministry’s commitment in the protection of biodiversity and in the fight for the preservation and care of species like the Iberian lynx”, which is why he encouraged all the organizations that collaborate in the project “to continue promoting actions that favor the recovery of our natural heritage, since species conservation because it has positive repercussions not only on ecosystems, but also on future generations.
An ideal enclave
The Sierra Arana is located in the northern highlands of Grenadain the region of Los Montes, and is part of the municipalities of Iznalloz, Benalúa de las Villas, Dehesas Viejas, Píñar, Morelábor, Colomera, Deifontes and Albolote.
The habitat is made up of a complex of mountains and mountains of Mediterranean nature such as the Sierra del Pozuelo, del Rayo and de las Cabras, the Montes de Iznalloz and the Sierra Arana, mountain ranges immersed in an agricultural matrix of dry crops dominated by olive groves, almond trees and cereals.
Avoid accidents
Currently, adaptation works are underway on nearly 25 kilometers of the A-308 motorway, from its origin on the A-44 motorway to its connection with the A-301, with a investment of 1.3 million euros and the objective of improving the ecological connectivity of the region’s road infrastructure.
This is an intervention planned to protect the Iberian lynx population, since it a particularly dangerous stretch of road for specimensthe largest number of collisions of individuals of the species recorded so far.
This is how they position themselves fences and gates with structures designed to prevent lynx and other wildlife from accessing the road, thereby reducing risk of accident.
Road and animal safety
Likewise, virtual fencing devices are placed at milestones and along roadsides, which They emit signals that deter animals to approach them, which increases safety, not only for the animals, but also for the drivers.
Furthermore, evacuation ramps are being installed which will allow specimens to accidentally enter the road that they can get out without running the risk of being crushed.
Likewise, the existing viaduct on the A-308 will be adapted to facilitate passage safe passage of wildlifepromoting connectivity between different areas of the habitat.
LIFE+ LYNXCONNECT project
Toranja is a two and a half year old female Iberian lynx.born at the Iberian Lynx Breeding Center in Silves, Portugal, and released in the Sierra Arana at the age of one. It is one of 13 specimens released in the area since December 2022.
The LIFE LYNXCONNECT project Creation of a genetically and demographically functional Iberian lynx metapopulation (2020-2025) is he fourth LIFE project approved by the European Commission for the conservation of the Iberian lynx.
After the achievements of the previous LIFE IBERLINCE project Recovery of the historical distribution of the Iberian lynx in Spain and Portugal (2011-2018)focused on restoration of the historical distribution of the species in the Iberian Peninsula and its reintroduction in Portugal, Extremadura, Castile-La Mancha.
Autonomous population
In addition to consolidating the first reintroductions of the Iberian lynx carried out in Andalusia within the framework of previous LIFE projects, the main challenge of LIFE LYNXCONNECT is make the Iberian lynx population self-sufficient and genetically viable in the long term.
This is provided by connecting the existing six cores and creating two new cores. All this will help reduce the risk of extinction of this species.
The main objective of LIFE LYNXCONNECT is to connect all currently existing lynx population centers with the aim of achieving metapopulation integration guaranteeing gene flow between all Iberian lynx populations. To achieve this, different actions will be launched, with particular emphasis on genetic management of the speciesto guarantee said flow.
Conservation strategy
Alongside this objective, it is a question of reproducing lynx, in turn, to achieve other specific objectives such as reducing the risk of extinction, improving the state of its population, combating the threats that affect it , implement conservation measures and habitat improvement through territorial stewardship and social participation tools, as well as the revision of the Iberian strategy for the conservation of the species.
LIFE LYNXCONNECT is a transnational cooperation project which covers the entire range of the species, in which environmental administrations participate and with skill In roads of two countries and four autonomous communities (Spain, Portugal, Andalusia, Castile-la-Mancha, Extremadura and Murcia).
In addition, they participate non-governmental organizations of the environmental sector as Adenex, WWF-Spain and CBD-Habitat Foundation; representatives of the hunting sector, Artemisan Foundationprivate companies and which benefits from the scientific support of Higher Council for Scientific Research – Doñana Biological Station.
This participatory and transnational character, which has the experience gained in previous projectsmakes it possible to improve cooperation between management administrations and other agents involved in land use planning, nature conservation and economic development.
