A news article on June 27, 2013 from Portugal News Online reported that two Iberian Lynx born last year at the Silves Reproduction Centre in Portugal were recently released in to the Guarrizas Valley in Spain. Eleven of nineteen Iberian Lynx released into the wild so far this year were born at the Algarve-based CNRLI reproduction centre, in Silves. The cat’s first few days of freedom were monitored by radio and satellite.
So far this year 17 cubs have been born at the CNRLI centre in Silves, 15 of which are currently also being taught to live in the wild, in preparation for their release next year.
The Iberian, or Spanish, Lynx is currently the most endangered wild cat species in the world. The situation of the Iberian Lynx is so grave that it is the only felid species in which the costly and risky process of captive breeding and reintroduction is essential. The lynx is threatened by the collapse of its main prey, the European rabbit, whose population now numbers only about 5% of 1950 levels due mainly to the introduction of exotic diseases.