Castilla-La Mancha, a region in central Spain, is home to the Iberian lynx, one of the most endangered feline species in the world. Thanks to a reintroduction program launched in 2014, the region now boasts a population estimated at over 582 individuals, including 223 cubs born in 2022. In this latest phase of the project, called “Life Lynx Connect,” three lynx are being released in the area, including a pair of one year old lynx named Tempo and Tesla. These releases mark another milestone in the ongoing effort to recover the Iberian lynx population in Castilla-La Mancha.
Population status and new releases in 2023
“The region of Castilla la Mancha has an estimated population of “more than” 582 Iberian lynx”. This includes the 223 cubs born in 2022 announced by the regional Minister of Sustainable Development, José Luis Escudero on Tuesday 21st Feb 2023 in Polán, a town located in the province of Toledo. Presumably the “more than” part is estimating that their are also untracked/uncounted specimins also in the province.
The minister provided these figures during the release of a pair of Iberian lynx at the El Borril estate, located in Polán: a male named “Tempo,” from the National Iberian Lynx Reproduction Center in Silves (Portugal), and “Tesla“, a female born at the Captive Breeding Center in La Olivilla (Jaén).
Reintroduction of lynx in Castilla la Mancha
These two lynx released on Tuesday 21st in the reintroduction area of Montes de Toledo, and a third that will be released in the coming weeks in the reintroduction area of eastern Sierra Morena, will be the only specimens released in 2023 in Castilla la Mancha as part of the European program ‘Life Lynx Connect,’ the Ministry of Sustainable Development said in the press release.
Escudero highlighted that “the favorable evolution of the reintroduction project has allowed for laying the foundations of the process of recovery of the Iberian lynx in the region.”
The Minister of Sustainable Development noted that eight years have passed since the first Iberian lynx were released as part of the ‘Life Iberlince’ project, and the efforts made in Castilla la Mancha during this period have enabled the establishment of three areas of stable presence of this threatened feline.
With the pair of lynx released on Tuesday, more than 118 specimens have already been released in since 2014, Escudero said, adding that in this new stage, framed in the ‘Lynx Connect’ project, the challenge has been set to consolidate the existing populations, connect them with each other, and reduce the threats to the species.
In this regard, he said that during 2022, 223 cubs of the species were born in the autonomous community, of which 107 were born in the Montes de Toledo,which “marks a new historical milestone in the conservation of the species.”
He also pointed out that the monitoring carried out by environmental agents, technicians from the Ministry of Sustainable Development, and the public company Geacam, with the collaboration of estate personnel, has allowed the detection of a total of 84 wild litters with (at least) those 223 cubs, 107 of them in the Montes de Toledo, 65 in eastern Sierra Morena, 47 in western Sierra Morena, and four in the province of Albacete.
A bright future for the Iberia lynx in Castilla la Mancha
Currently, a total of 112 territorial females are settled: 53 in the Montes de Toledo, 37 in eastern Sierra Morena, 21 in western Sierra Morena, and one in the province of Albacete, while the total population in Castilla la Mancha is 359 individuals older than one year (adults and juveniles) and the 223 cubs born in 2022, placing the figures above the 582 specimens.
Regarding this, Escudero stated: “As a regional government, we have fulfilled the recovery of a species native to our territory that was once extinct, and we have met the objectives set out in 2003 with the approval of the Iberian lynx Recovery Plan and the declaration of sensitive areas for the survival of the species in the region.”
He added that they have also fulfilled “the objectives set by the different ‘Life’ projects that have been carried out for the recovery of the species.
Lynx or Lynxes. Whats the correct plural?
The plural for lynx is either “lynxes” or “lynx”. Both forms are considered correct and can be used interchangeably. “Lynx” is actually the more common plural form of “lynx” in British English, while “lynxes” is more common in American English. However, both forms are correct and you can use the one that sounds better to you without anyone telling you you’ve spelt it wrong! 🙂
Further reading
- Read about the Iberian lynx here: https://wildsideholidays.co.uk/iberian-lynx-lynx-pardinus-lince-iberico/
- Read about EU LIFE projects in Spain here: https://wildsideholidays.co.uk/european-union-life-program-in-spain/
- Read about Castilla la Mancha here: https://wildsideholidays.co.uk/castilla-la-mancha/
- Topic at the Iberia Nature Forum: https://iberianatureforum.com/forums/topic/how-many-iberian-lynx-are-there-in-iberia/
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