Noticias en ‘Castilla_La Mancha’
May 6th, 2008
Here’s another great live webcam, this time on a Spanish imperial eagle’s nest in Cabañeros National Park (Ciudad Real). At the moment of posting this the chick is less one month old. The aim is to raise awareness of the importance of the conservation of the Spanish imperial eagle.
Spain currently has 234 pairs of imperial eagles, 34 more than in 2006, of which 73 are found in Castilla-La Mancha. The bird’s principal threats are poison and power lines; between 1990 and 2007 at least 95 birds were poisoned and a further 130 were electrocuted. The lack of rabbits is also a problem. More information from aguilaimperial.org
See also Bonelli’s eagle webcam in El Garraf
Castilla_La Mancha, Spanish imperial eagle, birds, webcams | Tags: Cabañeros National Park, Ciudad Real|
Dan Ward has just sent me the latest and as usual excellent Lynx Brief (pdf). This issue looks at:
- The serious situation for the lynx in Doñana whose population seems to be going from bad to worse. He calls for an action plan to combat:
- High traffic speeds and volumes
- Habitat loss to intensive agriculture
- Apparent mismanagement of protected areas
- The population’s small size and low diversity
- Conflicting attitudes amongst local people
This is all undoubtedly true but I personally feel the greatest threat to the lynx in Doñana is the extremely low rabbit population across the park which is forcing young lynx to disperse into conflictive areas. Despite being increasingly hemmed in by infrastructure, Doñana is still big and wild enough to support a far larger and almost sustainable lynx population than now, as indeed it did until myxamatosis arrived.
- The Iberian Lynx captive breeding programme is advancing well, both in terms of more captive breeding success, and in terms of actions and plans made for: further captive breeding centres, and; the planned reintroduction of captively bred animals in the future.
- Lynx presence in Cuidad Real, Castilla-La Mancha with a population of 15 individuals, including 3 reproductive females, 2 adult males, 4 sub-adults and 6 cubs
Cuidad Real province borders the area of northern Andalucía with current lynx presence (Andújar – Cardeña). This, combined with the fact that extensive surveys conducted over previous years failed to confirm lynx presence, suggests that the lynx in Castilla-La Mancha are individuals dispersed from northern Andalucía rather than a separate remnant population. Unofficial suggestions have been made that the photographed lynx come from a specific private hunting estate bordering Andalucía in southern Cuidad Real province, which, if true, would confirm the hypothesis that these animals dispersed from Andalucía. Unfortunately, however, the regional government has
refused to confirm the precise location of these lynx. The Castilla-La Mancha government has justified withholding this information so as to protect the lynxes’ habitat. However, the reverse would seem to be true. The precise location of lynxes in Andalucía has been widely publicised for several years without apparent detrimental impact upon their habitat. Moreover, it would seem that accurate and openly-available information about lynx presence has been key to allowing effective lynx conservation in Andalucía through co-ordination, lobbying, conservation projects, research and outreach.
Also check out Dan’s recommendation for the new soslynx.org website with some beautiful photos and videos.
Andalucia, Castilla_La Mancha, Doñana, Iberian lynx | Tags: conservation in Doñana, Cuidad Real, Dan Ward, Lynx Brief, lynx in Ciudad Real|
The Junta de Castilla-La Mancha have announced that they are to open a breeding centre for Iberian lynx in the Parque Nacional de Cabañeros. Meanwhile, they have also released a photo of lynx they claim was taken in front of an automatic camera last Thursday and did not run although the the flash continued to fire. (El Pais) The Junta have also released figures for the population in CLM - 3 breeding females, 2 males, 4 sub-adults and 6 cubs. The lynxes are somewhere in Ciudad Real and may be animals which have dispersed from Sierra Morena in Andalucia, and perhaps mixed with a relict population in CLM. This would be very good news as it would mean that the Sierra Morena lynxes are expanding more than previously believed.
Castilla_La Mancha, Iberian lynx, Mammals, Sierra Morena | |
The latest figures for Iberian lynx appear to be promising. There are now estimated to be between 200 and 250 individuals (including cubs) in Andalucia. 44 cubs were born this year in the two encalves of Sierra Morena and Doñana. Added to this is the possible existence (sorry, still need to be convinced on this) of a population in Castilla-La Mancha (CLM), made up of 15 animals (six cubs and nine adults). According to CLM authorities these lynxes were first detected in July 2002 and have since been “located” on 45 occasions. What is strange is that the official 2004 census ruled out the animal’s presence in CLM after 14,571 photo traps. If true, however, there are now between 215 and 265 Iberian lynx in Spain in the wild.
There are also now 37 individuals in the captive breeding centres which is to be increased to 60 breeding animals by 2010-, guaranteeing 85% of the genetic variability which existed in the wild in 2004. Some of these animals are to be sent to Portugal, Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha for their own breeding programmes. The Portuguese government has begun to build a centre in Algarve and hopes to release lynx into the wild in the Algarve by 2019.
Note: there is considerable skepticism, to say the least in the Spanish natural history community about the CLM lynxes because of the way the news was released, the weird videos and the lack of coordination. Here’s what some people on the linceforo are saying.
Photo from Lynx Recovery Programme
Andalucia, Castilla_La Mancha, Doñana, Iberian lynx, Mammals, Sierra Morena | |
As more information starts to come out, it seems that there may well be a population of Iberian lynx in Castilla-la Mancha. If true, this is incredibly good news for the species, and the most remarkable news about wildlife in Spain this year. It increases the lynx’s chance of recovery significantly because of increased distribution area, genetic diversity and sheer numbers. It seems La Junta de Castilla-la Mancha have been “secretly” monitoring lynxes for some time, and have now decided to make this public. Detection has been made with photo-trapping and DNA analysis of scats. They seem to be saying that a significant number of are individuals have been found.
In a piece on their own websitewritten a couple of years ago they stated they’re working on the detection and conservation of the Iberian lynx in the eastern Montes de Toledo: río Bullaque, arroyo Bullaquejo, Sierra de Picón, río Guadiana, Sierra Morena, Sierra del Relumbrar and río Guadalmena-Cerro Vico.
This is probably the area we’re talking about.
More here from WWF who praise the pioneering work done by La Junta de Castilla-la Mancha in rabbit conservation, fundamental for the survival of the lynx. WWF note that it is essential to establish a ecological corridor between Sierra Morena and Montes de Toledo.
- Why the secrecy? Perhaps they’ve kept quiet because these are big private estates and they don’t want the publicity. There are a number of unanswered questions though.
- How many lynxes are there?
- Did the other lynx authorities know about it?
- I think it is good that CLM has announced the news. They are the maximum authority in charge of wildlife in the area and it means they are taking it seriously - how would the region of Madrid have reacted I wonder. BUT Why release the news now and why wasn’t it wasn’t co-ordinated, as Lisa on the forum, points out with environmental organisations and indeed with Astrid Vargas? More soon I’m sure.
More on the forum http://www.iberianatureforum.com/index.php/topic,8.msg6601.html#msg6601
Castilla_La Mancha, Iberian lynx, Mammals | |
STOP PRESS (as they say)
A front page article in El Pais is claiming that a “population” of lynxes has been found somewhere undisclosed in Castilla La-Mancha (Montes de Toledo? Sierra de Alcarza?), the first to be detected in 10 years. There’s a video so I suppose it must be true. What The article claims there are “dozens” of adults, this clearly should read “some” as it is surely impossible that so many animals could go undetected for so long. And the journalist who wrote the thing clearly doesn’t have a clue or was asleep when he wrote it, starting that the “El lince vuelve en manada a Castilla-La Mancha” – Packs of lynx return to Castilla-La Mancha, something unthinkable for a territorial lynx. What does he think they are, lions? Great news that even a few have been discovered, though. MORE SOON
http://www.elpais.com
Castilla_La Mancha, Iberian lynx, Mammals | |
Several environmental groups (Ecologistas en Acción, WWF/Adena, Greenpeace and SEO/BirdLife) have called removal of protection of Las Tablas de Daimiel and Los Humedales de La Mancha faced with the utter failure of protection measures to save this once great Spanish wetland. They note that 60% of the wetlands of the Alto Guadiana have dried out and that the Tablas de Daimiel themselves, once covered 2,000 ha in summer and now down to 26. At clear fault is the Junta de Castilla-La Mancha which with EU money, and to the benefit of a few rich farmers, continues to permit over-use of the area’s aquifers, making it impossible for the wetlands to recover. (El Mundo - but why is this paper always silent, have you noticed, about criticisms of PP-led regions?)
Castilla_La Mancha, Environment, Water, Wetlands | |
Rains have brought respite for the Tablas de Daimiel and now the flooded area covers 68ha up from just 20ha at its lowest point several weeks ago. National Government has also agreed to “transfer” water from El Tajo. At its peak the marshes cover 1,600ha.. (El Pais ). Level of flooded area here of Tablas de Damiel
Castilla_La Mancha, Water, Wetlands | |
