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The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is considered the most threatened carnivore in Europe, and the most threatened feline in the World. Amongst all the mammals in the Iberian Peninsula, it is the one that, in addition to being an endemic specie of our peninsula, undergoes a greater threat of extinction world-wide.

A research made between 1988 and 1990 by Delibes and Rodriguez revealed a drastic reduction of the specie distribution area, locating it in a poor 2% of the Spanish territory. This area is located fundamentally in the southwest quadrant of the peninsula, with an estimated population of 1000/1200 units.

Recently, it has been able to prove the presence of Iberian lynx only in Doñana, and in a part of Sierra Morena, in the area located between the towns of Andujar (province of Jaén), Cardeña, and Montoro, these two in the province of Cordoba.

However, indications of the presence of lynx still can be found in other areas in some spanish autonomous communities, like Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, Castilla y Leon and even Madrid, although with so reduced populations that they are literally impossible to detect with the location systems used at the present time (fundamentally, the photo-trap).

A translation to numbers shows in a more tangible and dramatic way the situation of this feline. Its estimated population is probably not over 160 units, and the area of confirmed presence doesn't go over 700 squared kms. This means that in the last 30 years the population of lynx in Spain has decreased a 90% approximately, under the impassibility of public administrations.

The direct prosecution and the disappearance of their nutritional base, along with the alteration and fragmentation of their habitat are the main causes of the species sudden population decrease.

The contagious diseases that affect the wild rabbit have reduced drastically its population to historical levels. In large potential areas of Iberian lynx, its main prey, the rabbit, has simply disappeared. To the virulence of diseases like Mixomatosis and Viral Hemorrhagic Pneumonia it is necessary to add an inadequate management of cinegetic activities in numerous locations of smaller and greater hunting, an excessive hunting pressure, and little technical criteria in the repopulating or population reinforcing on the side of the cinegetic managers.

A high number of lynx have ended trapped and agonizing in any of the tens of trap-bows that are placed in rows sometimes without permit. Others have died in the classic iron traps, painful system that destroys the animal in its vain attempt to get rid of a certain and cruel death.

Also the captures by hunting dogs, mainly in the course of organized group huntings in which the areas where the species finds refuge are combed with hundreds of dogs, is a cause of non natural death. When not, it is the direct death by shooting. Some times this occurs with clear intentionality, and being aware of the crime and damage that is caused on a species in very serious danger of extinction. Other, by easy triggering of a significant number of hunters, that shoot to any bush that is moving, without making sure that it hides an appropriate species to be shot on because of its condition and age.

Consequently it can be affirmed that the survival of Iberian lynx is closely related to the hunting activity. Its proper control is absolutely essential to avoid a certain extinction of the species.

Also of great importance it is the impact that the construction of road, railway and hydraulic infrastructures has on the lynx, since they change its habitat and fragment the territory, causing the loss of critical areas. Numerous and tremendous decisions by public administrations are moving the most threatened feline of the world towards a definitive extinction. In the last years are specially harmful the approval of the National Water Administration Plan, that includes the construction of ten great dams in the lynx distribution area, and the Infrastructure Director Plan, that includes several cases of railcars, freeways and high speed trains in areas of interest for the lynx.

On top of that, the initiatives started up by the environmental administrations, pressed by an increasing sensitivity of the society in relation to the species, are not being enough to contain the backward tendency of the lynx.

It is possible to read the Strategy for the Conservation of the Iberian lynx, the Plan of Breeding and the Program of Ex-situ Conservation of the Iberian lynx in the WEB of the Environment Ministry (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente).