Sometimes referred to as the Spanish Lynx, this cat calls Southwestern Spain and parts of Portugal home. The head and body length averages up to 110 cm while height averages 70 cm. This about half the size of the Eurasian lynx and while the Iberian Lynx was long thought to be a descendant of the Eurasian Lynx it is in fact its own species. Its main meal consists of hares and rabbits; however it will prey on rodents, birds, fish and even larger animals such as deer due to a massive decline in rabbit population in Spain. The rabbit loss is attributed to major diseases and loss of habitat due to urban development. The Lynx also suffers at the hands of urban development along with lack of prey, poaching, accidental deaths including car accidents and getting caught in traps meant for other animals. However, the Iberian Lynx has also observed its own adversity in the area of reproduction as it has been documented that the cubs of the cat (usually three in a litter) become violent towards one another around the 45 day mark and will often kill one another in a fight to the death. Why? No one is certain, but one assumption is that it is due to a change in hormones from switching from the mother's milk to raw meat. The vicious days end around the 60 day mark, if the cubs make it that far. In 2008 there were approximately 100 Iberian Lynx left in the wild and due to this it is the most critically endangered cat in the world. If it were to become extinct it would be the first feline extinction since Smilodon, 10,000 years ago. Recovery efforts have proven to be some what effective. An off-site conservation captive breeding program has successfully accounted for 52 individuals, 24 of which were bred in captivity. The off-site conservation population will provide 20 to 40 individuals per year for reintroductions, beginning in 2010.

naturetrek.co.uk Iberian Lynx image:58914:4::0

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