WELCOME TO Val's Alentejo -I write about my region of Alentejo. My art ,painting, my cottages, Family life, my animals -Travels And my love for Roses- and rural country life.

Saturday 20 July 2013

The Lynx

Two Iberian lynx (Lynx Pardinus) were born last year in Portugal at the Town of Silves reproduction centre. Part of an Iberian speceis recovery plan.  They were released on 21June this year 2013. In the Guarriza Valley Spain.  You will see from this map that Spain has the bigger population.  They are found   along the borders......but mainly in the south , where there is more dense bush.
In the Silves breeding centre.. there has been 45 births with 26 kittens surviving.  That is really progress.
                                                                           This is an old map from the 60's
                                                   An Iberian Lynx with her baby.. (rare shots)

                                            The babies that were released this June.2013
                                         Their habitat.  The Monchique mountains in the Algarve are known to have been sighted.  A gentleman a couple of years ago sighted one.
               A most beautiful specimen of a wild cat.. the Iberian Lynx. Very striking to look at. How I would love to see one in real life.
                                      This is an image of the Asian lynx.  Found in various provinces of China. They are of a different specie.

In 2002 Jerez Zoo Had 3 females for developing  in  captive breeding one of these females was called "Saliega"..she was captured as a cub in 2002. She became the fist Iberian Lynx to breed in captivity and gave birth to 3 healthy kittens.

There is a big program now in place.. both in Spain and Portugal.  The Spanish government has pumped in more than 5 million euros to boost the program  for the reproduction of  the cats in captivity.

I dont like to talk about cloning!.. there is experiments going on.. but not working.using domestic cats.
and embrioes are now being frozen. The cloning did now work.

It is estimated that there are 100 to 200 animals remaining in the wild.  The species numbered 4.000 in 1960..They were also hunted for their skins.. now banned.

The Lynx has always fascinated me as a cat ... It resembles other species of Lynx , but the Iberian lynx has short tail, tufted ears and a ruff of fur beneath the chin.
Today my post is about these beautiful animals...  The map below shows their  decline , up until 2003. So its no wonder there are only around 200 to 300 now in the wild..   Let us all hope that their population will increase even more as the years go by.. It would be a great loss to loose such an Interesting stunning specie of  animal.
Hope you enjoyed reading about this endangered specie..

Wishing you all a happy weekend.

val

26 comments:

  1. What a lovely face this cat has. I hope that the process is successful!

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    1. A very beautiful wild lynx.. I think from what i have read..the numbers are slowly growing. Thank you Pondside.

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  2. i hope they can rejuvenate their numbers, but hopefully naturally.

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    1. I think from buildings going further and further out into the hills.. it might be difficult. Bu that would be the ideal way. A shame to loose such a beautiful cat

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  3. Thank you for sharing this Val. I worry so much that our grandchildren won't be able to experience the wildlife that we grew up with.

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  4. So true Gretchen.
    But this cat only lives in the Iberian peninsula.
    You have the puma there in the us..but of course a different specie.
    Thank you for your comments.. x

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  5. Hi Val. Those are such beautiful animals. I hope their numbers start to increase again. I hate the thought of them being locked up in a zoo, but sad to say that will be the only way we can see many species in the future..Happy Weekend..Judy

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    1. They truly are beautiful animals.. I dont like zoo's .. i think its cruel.
      i do agree with some sanctuaries, where their intentions are good and they want to preserve a specie.
      I think the project i wrote about will hopefully get the numbers up..
      thank you Judy.
      xx

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  6. They are beautiful creatures. I too do not like cloning. I like your blog header.

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    1. Thank you Betty. No.. the cloning didnt work..thank god.. It seems to be working the conservation centre..and all their hard work..
      pleased you like my header.. Its one of my roses enlarged.

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  7. My goodness what a regal cat - hope they can have babies! lol

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    1. Such a regal cat. We can only hope the conservation centres with their programme will be helpful..before they become extinct.
      Thank you Sandie.

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  8. Such beautiful animals. Thank you Val for sharing this information. Just another of the world's creatures in danger of extinction. Let's hope that the breeding centre programme continues to have success.
    Keep cool,
    Betty

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    1. Indeed extinction , because of greed for the land to build on.
      Their main food being rabbit.. the hunters also kill the rabbits.
      lets hope the centres do have success.
      Thank you betty for such a nice comment.

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  9. They are lovely Val. Such a shame their population is declining but we can only hope that nature will find a way to stop this happening. I don't like zoos either but sometimes this seems to be the only way to save animals such as these from becoming extinct.
    Patricia x

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    1. The centres are releasing them high up into the mountains. So we can only hope that numbers grow.
      It would be such a loss to loose this lovely lynx.
      Thanks for your comment Patricia.
      val

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  10. Thank you Val for all the information about the conservation work that has been done on re-establishing the Iberian Lynx and their recent release into the Guarriza Valley. I expect it will be several years until they know whether or not they have been successful or not.
    The Iberian Lynx are beautiful cats with such a proud intelligent appearance.
    I wondered if there was any opposition to the release from the farmers in the area, worried about their livestock, or whether the area is too remote for human habitation.

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    1. That was really the main reason for my post. As now there is more awareness about this just nearly extict Iberian lynx.. I am sure it will be some years before we can see the outcome.. but they are tagged and the vets and conservation centre can watch their patterns.
      It truly is a beautiful cat.. its always fascinated me. When i lived in the Algarve.. on going out into the country.. i always had the wish that i would see one.. ):-
      No.. opposition.. it is prohibited to kill them or hunt.. they are released high up in the mountains.. right up also in the north in the Malacata mountain region.. they live between spain and portugal, they are a shy animal. They do not eat livestock..their only source of food is the rabbit, and the farmers are a lot to blame for that , as they still hunt rabbit during hunting season.
      Thank you for your comment Rosemary.. most appreciated.

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  11. I have never heard of the Iberian lynx, which is a stunning looking creature. So sad that the numbers have declined so dramatically but isn't it great that they are trying now to protect and save them. When I was in Canada I saw a lynx caged in a zoo; it was pacing back and forth, so sad. It was a beautiful animal though, and I had never seen one before. I guess it is a related species to the Iberian lynx. Thank you for telling this interesting information Val, and have a Happy Sunday! xx

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  12. Hello Patricia, thank you for coming by and leaving your comment.. Now you know about the Iberian Lynx.. lives in the extreme mountainous regions of Spain and Portugal (Iberia)
    Sad to see them in a zoo. Best they be with the conservation centres. There is also the asian lynx.. the species seperated some hundres of years ago.
    happy Sunday..down under Patricia.. val

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  13. They are gorgeous! Sad to hear how endangered they are.

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    1. Thank you Jen..
      I do hope that the numbers will increase as the years go on.

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  14. Hallo Val!!
    Wonderful and interesting post!
    Beautiful animals!
    I did'nt know this cat only lives in the Iberian peninsula!
    Thank you for sharing!
    Have a lovely week!
    Dimi...

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    1. Hello Dimi,,
      The cat I wrote about is the Iberian lynx.. there are lynx in asia too.
      sub species.
      thank you for you comment

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  15. Val,
    Such an interesting post it is a beautiful animal. I do hope that the breeding programme and reintroducing them into the wild is successful.
    Sarah x

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    1. Thank you for your comment and interest in my post Sarah.
      It would be fantastic if the numbers could be increased.

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