Noticias en ‘Iberian lynx’
April 23rd, 2008
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 Iberian lynx breeding programme is expecting five more female lynxes to give birth this week in El Acebuche, Doñana and two at the new La Olivilla centre in Santa Elena, Jaén. The mother’s names are Esperanza, Aura and Aliaga (El Acebuche) and Castañuela and Barraca - (La Olivilla). Last weekend Adelfa and Boj also gave birth to litters in El Acebuche. Terra
Video here of Boj and her cubs
On the negative side three lynx cubs have been found dead in the Coto del Rey, apparently from malnutricion. The litter of four were micro-chipped at the end of March when, according to WWF/Adena, two of them should have been taken from their mother due to the unlikelyhood of them all surviving naturally. According to their sources, the cubs weren’t in the best of health then. Follow this on the forum
Photos from Programa de Conservación Ex-Situ del Lince ibérico
Andalucia, Doñana, Iberian lynx | Tags: El Acebuche, Jaen, La Olivilla, malnutricion|
It seems the death last week of the death of the only autochthonous male lynx left in Doñana was due to by starvation and thirst. The lynx seems to have jumped over a 2 metre high fence into a new reintroduction area which has been set up to acclimatise other lynx brought in from the Sierra Morena. The animal was wearing a radio-tracking collar (as part of the €26m Life project) and there are now questions of why the people monitoring it, did not notice. News from El Mundo or See forum thread on this
Andalucia, Doñana, Iberian lynx, On Spain | |
Tests have confirmed that Azahar, an Iberian Lynx from Jerez de la Frontera Zoo is pregnant and will hopefully give birth in mid-April. This would be the zoo’s first lynx litter. Azahar was brought to the zoo after being captured in the Sierra de Andújar as she had an injury which made her survival in the wild unlikely. There is a chance that the birth will coincide with the iberianature forum trip to the zoo’s facilities on April 13th. Terra
Andalucia, Iberian lynx | Tags: Jerez de la Frontera Zoo, Sierra de Andújar|
This week has seen the first lynx cubs this year born in captivity.
- Brisa, a first-time mother gave birth, prematurely, to two cubs, one of which was still born. Lisa on the forum notes “If www.publico.es is not exaggerating Brisa spent a long time trying to bring it round but had to give up and ate it. Eight hours later, the second cub was born having shot out a metre after the last contraction She rejected this cub (well, not an ideal first experience was it?) and the cub is being reared by experts in charge of the breeding programme. It’s still in a critical condition.”
- The second news is somewhat better. Brisa’s mother, Saliega, gave birth to her 4th litter on Saturday. Three cubs were born. One of the three has since died but far the other two are fine.
Andalucia, Iberian lynx, Mammals | Tags: Brisa, Saliega|
Lynx release sites for 2010
The Andalusian counties of Guadalmellato (Cordoba) and Guarrizas (Jaen) have been chosen as the sites in 2010 for the first releases of captive Iberian lynx in the wild. One of the reasons for choosing these two areas is the massive local support for the lynx. The lynxes wil be first released into enclosures. (Terra)
Andalucia, Iberian lynx, On Spain | Tags: Cordoba, Guadalmellato, Guarrizas, Jaen|
Spanish researchers are currently testing a vaccine for rabbits against myxomatosis and haemorrhagic disease virus.
The rabbit, that most Spanish of animals, is a keystone species in Spain, forming an essential part of the food chain, and to a greater or lesser extent the basis of the diet for more than 40 species of mammals, birds and reptiles including the Iberian lynx, which is virtually dependant on it for survival. The arrival of myxomatosis in Spain in 1953 led to the decimation of rabbit populations with mortality rates of 95-100% in many areas, and the extinction of Iberian lynx across almost the whole Peninsula. It also had an unquantified but surely massive effect on other animals. Then, in the 1980s, just when the rabbit began to recover, a second rabbit-control disease, Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (vírica hemorrágica in Spanish), was unleashed on the planet. Its arrival in Spain, once again decimated rabbit numbers, and in many areas rabbits have yet to recover despite millions spent by government and hunting estates. Myxomatosis attacks in the summer and haemorrhagic disease virus attacks in the winter.
The Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria has been working for more than ten years to find a vaccine against both diseases. Based on this research, the Laboratorio Syva with the support of the Federación de Caza and the Fundación Biodiversidad have now developed a vaccine which with the final field tests still to be done seems to be efficient. It provides an interesting example of hunters and conservationists working together.
According to Luis Ignacio Pérez-Ordoyo of the Laboratorio Syva, “The vaccine has been developed from the myxomatosis virus into which is inserted the gene of a protein of vírica hemorrágica, thus obtaining a recombinable virus”.
The vaccine is inserted under a rabbit’s skin and then is transmitted to other rabbits by contact. There is no direct transmission to the foetus in pregnant females. Once EU and Spanish medical authorities give the go-ahead, it can be used with wild rabbits. Then, in theory, this harmless virus will spread among the population, so inoculating them. Researchers assure the virus has no negative effect on rabbits or their predators. Tests have been carried on European lynx with no adverse effects. The vaccine has a 100% effectiveness for one year. (Note, I’m unsure as to whether it is then necessary to re-vaccinate or whether the virus will naturally do this). The same researchers also note that it is also necessary to improve the habitat of rabbits in Spain so they can dig burrows and feed, and to repopulate some areas.
This vaccine could be have a huge effect on the recovery of the Iberian lynx. Rabbits could recover very quickly, as they breed, as it were, “like rabbits” with up 11 pregnancies a year, giving birth each time to 3-9 babies. (Publico)
See also More protection demanded for rabbit + Origin of words Spain, rabbit and coney + Iberian lynx (with section on the rabbit)
Iberian lynx, rabbits in Spain | |
A young male lynx has been found dead on a road in the Sierra de Andujar. (El Mundo) If, as it seems likely, it was killed by a car, it would be the first I think for more than a year. See also No lynx killed this year on Doñana’s roads
Andalucia, Iberian lynx, On Spain | |
Brisa, one of the lynxes born in captive breeding programme, may be pregnant, and could become in March the first captive female to give birth to cubs. Consumer
Iberian lynx, On Spain | |
First of this year’s copulations among the lynx’s in the captive breeding programme, including 65 attempts by Saliega and Jub, a record. They must be knackered. Voz Digital. In the photo, a female lynx being examined before being allowed to mate. Lynx mating in video here
Iberian lynx, On Spain | |
Good news for this last 2007. Not a single Iberian lynx were killed this year on Doñana’s roads, in contrast to the five killed last year. This is no doubt much due to the 27 km of special fencing to prevent the lynx from crossing the road (El Mundo). Also the first lynx (a male) taken from Sierra Morena has been released in Doñana to improve the population genetic viability. (Terra)
Andalucia, Doñana, Iberian lynx | |
The population of the Iberian lynx needs to increase threefold to ensure its survival according to American cat expert Melody Roelke. Roelke believes that the lynx’s situation in less critical than that of the Florida panther which in the 1990s was down to just 30 pairs, but with transfers has managed to double its numbers and reach an acceptable genetic diversity, and as result she fully supports the transfer of lynx from Sierra Morena to Doñana. (Terra)
Iberian lynx, On Spain | |
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 | |
Dan Ward has just sent me the latest lynx brief, the excellent newsletter focusing on the conservation of the Iberian Lynx. You can read the whole thing on pdf, but this is what he has to say on the plan to move several lynxes from Sierra Morena to Doñana:
Photo of Iberian lynxes from lynxexsitu
Plans to translocate lynx into Doñana
As noted above, it is currently proposed by the Andalucían Regional Government to translocate up to three lynx from Andújar-Cardeña into the Doñana lynx population in November or December 2007. A breeding pair of lynx might be translocated into an area previously inhabited by lynx lost to FeLV and a female lynx might be translocated into an area of Doñana inhabited by several male lynx but no females.
Studies have suggested that translocating just a few lynx could significantly raise the genetic variability in Doñana, provided that translocated lynx successfully inter-breed with local lynx. Similarly, it has been argued that removing up to three lynx from Andújar-Cardeña will not adversely affect this population. However, despite support from some individuals and groups, the translocation proposal is controversial. WWF Spain and Ecologistas en Acción, in particular, have voiced opposition to the proposal on the grounds that threats to wild lynx in Doñana – particularly from road traffic – need to be more reduced before lynx should be translocated there from Andújar-Doñana, so as to avoid the risk of any translocated lynx being killed and also to address the root causes of lynx decline in Doñana.
The Andalucían Regional Government has implemented a lot of work in recent years aimed at reducing threats from road traffic, including more fences, underpasses, signals and rumble strips, and no lynx are known to have been killed this year in and around Doñana. However, road traffic continues to travel at speeds considerably in excess of 60km/h and 90km/h limits, particularly between Mazagón and Matalascañas, between Matalascañas and El Rocio, and between El Rocio and Villamanrique. Similarly, it may just be luck and/or the numbers of lynx being significantly reduced by FeLV in 2007 that has led to no lynx being killed by vehicles this year.
Andalucia, Doñana, Iberian lynx, Mammals | |
Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalucia are to have a single conservation programme for the lynx. (Terra). It seems utterly remarkable to me that they didn’t do this years ago. And still no more confirmation of the lynx in Castilla-La Mancha. What a strange story this is. The more and more people I talk to the more suspicious I become, but let us wait and see. Follow the forum thread for more on this or read the latest thoughts on the foro-linceiberico.
The population of wolves in Andalucia has “stabilized” at some 50 individuals in 6-9 groups, spread across the Sierra Morena (Sierra de Despeñaperros, Parque Natural Sierra de Andújar, Parque de Sierra Cardeña y Montoro and Parque Natural de Hornachuelos). The Andalusian government hope that there will be 200-300 wolves in the region with the next 15 years, which would provide a guarantee for the animal’s survival. Most of the wolves live in huge hunting estates with a very low human population. Wolves have been protected in Andalucia since 1986. (ABC)
Iberian lynx, Sierra Morena, Wolves, news briefs | |
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 | |
Three Iberian lynxes taken from Andújar in Sierra Morena are to be released in Doñana. Key to the transfer has been the control of feline leukemia within Doñana (Consumer). As far as I know this is the first time lynxes have been moved. It seems to me that before carrying out such drastic measures they should cut the number deaths of lynx in the Doñana, i.e. sort out the problem of traffic around the park first.
Andalucia, Doñana, Iberian lynx, Sierra Morena | |
The BBC has an interesting article today on Doñana and the lynx: How the EU saves, and kills, the lynx
Photo from Lynx Recovery Programme
from which I have snatched:
“Dr Astrid Vargas, famous for her work to save the lynx in Spain, shows me the control centre where they are monitored.
The lynx is like a domestic cat… with the hint of a tiger
|
To my disappointment, I am not allowed to see the animals in the flesh: there is the risk of them catching diseases and becoming unsettled if there’s a stream of visitors.
But it’s entrancing enough watching them on the monitors, as Astrid tries to find the cubs by panning cameras and switching between angles.
Two cubs are out for a morning walk but eventually join their brother in their den. They cuff each other, bite and play.
A three-year-old is about the size of a cocker spaniel, and they have wonderful faces, a little like a domestic cat, but then the hint of tiger flashes through. There is something both fey and ancient about their faces, it’s probably the tufted ears and pointed beard that does it.
They are at risk partly because disease has killed their main prey, rabbits. But environmentalists say what really threatens them is that the wetlands of this national park are drying out.
“Encroachment by humans has been brutal. If we do not protect the lynx’s habitat, there’s no point in having them in captivity - the purpose of this programme is to re-introduce them into the wild,” Astrid says.
“The reason the lynx is going extinct is because of our pressure. The Mediterranean maquis is shrinking fast, the natural vegetation is slowly but surely being changed.”
Andalucia, Doñana, Iberian lynx, Water, Wetlands | |
