The Iberian Lynx (sometimes reffered to as the Spanish Lynx) is a habitat of the Iberian Peninsula in Southern Europe. It is a critically endangered species, similar to the Eurasian Lynx but with distinct differences. The Iberian Lynx, unlike the Eurasian Lynx, bears "leopard-like" markings on its body. It weighs from 9 to 13 kg. and it's an excellent tree climber, while it nests in several different locations, such as in small caves or even up on trees, sometimes more than 10 meters higher up the ground.
During the mating season (January - February), the female leaves her territory in search of a male. The cubs are born around March or April and usually each female gives birth to three or four cubs.
The Iberian Lynx was originally found all over Portugal and Spain, while today it is only found in two areas of Andalucia (in Southern Spain). The decline of its population size began in the beginning of the 20th century with a greater impact on the Lynx around the 1950's due to a fatal disease that affected the European rabbit, which is the Lynx's main pray. Other factors that participated in the decrease of the Lynx's population were the loss of habitat (due to the vast expansion of the rural areas), roadkills and hunting.
According to studies conducted in 2005, the Iberian Lynx population included around 100 members in total, while another study conducted in 2000 revealed that the population at the time included 400 members. This means that within only a period of five years, more than 300 Iberian Lynxes were killed. Today the population is believed to have reached almost 200 members in total, a number that will hopefully increase due to extraordinary efforts by several organizations worldwide.
Sources:
Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberian_Lynx
Animal Info - http://www.animalinfo.org/species/carnivor/lynxpard.htm
During the mating season (January - February), the female leaves her territory in search of a male. The cubs are born around March or April and usually each female gives birth to three or four cubs.
The Iberian Lynx was originally found all over Portugal and Spain, while today it is only found in two areas of Andalucia (in Southern Spain). The decline of its population size began in the beginning of the 20th century with a greater impact on the Lynx around the 1950's due to a fatal disease that affected the European rabbit, which is the Lynx's main pray. Other factors that participated in the decrease of the Lynx's population were the loss of habitat (due to the vast expansion of the rural areas), roadkills and hunting.
According to studies conducted in 2005, the Iberian Lynx population included around 100 members in total, while another study conducted in 2000 revealed that the population at the time included 400 members. This means that within only a period of five years, more than 300 Iberian Lynxes were killed. Today the population is believed to have reached almost 200 members in total, a number that will hopefully increase due to extraordinary efforts by several organizations worldwide.
Sources:
Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberian_Lynx
Animal Info - http://www.animalinfo.org/species/carnivor/lynxpard.htm
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