What is the conservation status of the Iberian Lynx?

The Iberian Lynx is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where is the Iberian Lynx found?

The Iberian Lynx is found in Spain, Portugal.

Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) — Conservation Status & How to Help

About the Iberian Lynx

The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is the world's most endangered wild cat species by historical low point, native to the Iberian Peninsula and now recovering across parts of southern and central Spain and a small area of Portugal. Smaller than the Eurasian lynx, it is recognizable by its tufted ears, spotted coat, and short tail, and it depends almost exclusively on the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) for food, making it uniquely vulnerable to rabbit population crashes caused by myxomatosis and rabbit hemorrhagic disease.

The species inhabits Mediterranean scrubland and open woodland, particularly areas dominated by cistus scrub and stone pine, where it hunts by ambush and relies on dense cover for denning. Habitat fragmentation from road construction and agricultural expansion has divided populations into isolated pockets, while vehicle collisions remain one of the leading causes of documented mortality. Following a low of fewer than 100 individuals recorded in 2002 by the IUCN, coordinated reintroduction programs run by the Spanish and Portuguese governments, the EU LIFE program, and organizations including the WWF have brought the wild population to over 2,000 individuals as of the 2024 IUCN assessment, prompting a reclassification from Endangered to Vulnerable.

Things worth knowing

The Iberian lynx feeds on European rabbits for an estimated 80 to 90 percent of its diet, according to research cited by the IUCN, making it more diet-specialized than any other wild cat.
Females establish territories of roughly 10 square kilometers, while male territories are considerably larger and overlap with those of several females.
Kittens disperse at around 20 months old, and this dispersal period is when individuals are most at risk from road traffic, which the IUCN identifies as a primary ongoing mortality cause.
The species was reclassified from Endangered to Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List in 2024, representing one of the few documented recoveries of a cat species from the brink of extinction.
Iberian lynx cubs are born in dens located inside hollow trees or dense scrub, with litter sizes typically ranging from two to four kittens, though sibling competition means not all survive to independence.
Spain's Doñana National Park and the Sierra Morena region served as the last refuges of the species in the early 2000s and remain core habitat today.

Iberian Lynx

Things worth knowing

0 organizations protect the Iberian Lynx