Recent reports have mistakenly suggested that a new baby lynx, born in captivity at a conservation centre in Sierra de Fuentes in Spain, is Iberian. After a close monitoring of Esperanza’s fate, a female Iberian lynx on a breeding programme in the Doñana National Park, The Resident can reveal that the lynx cub currently in captivity is not Iberian – it is Eurasion and this is far from being an endangered species.
Eduardo Gonçalves, president of SOS Lynx, explained that “luckily at the moment, there are around 100,000 Eurasion lynx in Siberia.” Gonçalves was also happy to comment that things are definitely looking up for Esperanza, who has been mating with Garfio – her new companion – at El Acebuche breeding centre in the Doñana National Park. “We had a very stressful few weeks recently when she started to show all the signs of being pregnant, but sadly it transpired that she was going through a phantom pregnancy,” he revealed.
It seems that a Spanish journalist got hold of the information and believed the lynx to be Iberian, exciting much interest from the lynx preservation charities across Europe. However, Gonçalves confirmed that the lynx was not Iberian and, until Esperanza conceives, the problem surrounding the lynx’s dying population is still critical.
Esperanza is no longer in season, but, according to Gonçalves, that does not necessarily mean she cannot get pregnant. “If the female Iberian lynx has a specific fondness for a potential mate, sometimes she can still mate successfully, even out of season. By next spring, we will know for sure and here at SOS Lynx we are quietly confident.”
