The lynx releases in Extremadura continue

On Friday, February 23rd, a female named "Osadía" from the Granadilla captive breeding centre was released in the Matachel area.

Today, Monday, February 26th, two more specimens will be released in the Don Benito municipality: it is a male named "Osiris" (from the Olivilla breeding centre) and a female named "Oriel" (from the Granadilla breeding centre).

All releases follow the hard release method.

With these 3 released individuals, a total of 39 lynxes already live in freedom in Extremadura.

Thanks to these releases, the lynx population in Extremadura will be reinforced and will guarantee essential genetic variability.

Lynxes reintroduced in 2018 will be equipped with GPS location, which will allow to track their movements and use of the territory, providing important information on the species’ dispersal habits and possible interconnection areas with other populations in the Iberian Peninsula .

Lynx reintroduction actions in Extremadura started in 2014 as part of the Life+lberlince project for the recovery of the historical distribution of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Spain and Portugal.

Life+lberlince is a transnational project, co-financed 61.57 per cent by the European Union, and coordinated by the Regional Government of Andalusia. It also involves the participation of the communities of Andalusia, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and Murcia; and collaborates with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environmentand; the environmental organizations CBD-Habitat, VVWF, Secem and Adenex; the hunting associations Aproca and Andalusian Hunting Federation; and the private companies Agroforex, Fomecam and Acajú.

We emphatically thank estate owners; the Extremadura Hunting Federation; and various administrations such as the Civil Guard - SEPRONA, local councils, Provincial Councils, the Ministries of Education and Employment, and Economy and Infrastructures; Environmental agents; and the University of Extremadura (UEx) for yet another year of successful collaboration.