Spain: New breeding centers announced for the Iberian lynx

Tue, 21 Nov 2006, 22:39
By m.p.

The Environment Ministry has announced three new captive breeding centres for the Iberian Lynx. The new centres in Portugal, Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha will complement the existing El Acebuche centre in the Doñana nature park in Huelva.

The announcement came from Antonio Serranno, secretary of state for territory and biodiversity, at a committee meeting for the species’ captive breeding programme. He said the agreement reached consolidates an ‘Iberian pact for the lynx,‘ which is, today, the most threatened species on the planet. It requires an initial total investment of 4.5 million €, plus another 1 million € required for annual management and maintenance.

The Junta de Andalucía also have plans for new breeding centres in Jaén and Córdoba provinces.

The Acebuche Centre has achieved 5 births in captivity over the past two years. Just some 130 of the animals remain living in the wild.