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Date Published: 22/11/2023

10 new Iberian lynxes to be introduced to Lorca Highland

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The Life Lynxconnect project aims to repopulate the Region of Murcia with this endangered species

10 new Iberian lynxes to be introduced to Lorca Highland

Despite getting off to a decidedly shaky start, the Life Lynxconnect project is pushing ahead with its plans to repopulate the Region of Murcia with the endangered big cat. It was decided this week that 10 new Iberian lynxes will be introduced into the Lorca Highlands throughout 2024.

In theory, this 22,500 hectares of south-west Murcia land should be the perfect habitat for the animals, as it’s relatively isolated and has a plentiful supply of food. However, of the eight lynxes released this year, only four remain – three are dead and one is still missing after slipping her geolocator collar during the summer.

These cats can travel more than 15 kilometres in a single night and although their Lorca habitat is vast, most of them have wandered farther afield into built-up areas.

The current Life Lynxconnect project 'Creation of a genetically and demographically functional metapopulation of Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) (2020-2025)' is the fourth programme approved by the European Commission for the conservation of the Iberian lynx.

The entire project, which has a budget of 18,754,029 euros, is partly funded by the EU (60.67%). The Region of Murcia’s contribution is one million euros, 40% of which comes from the local government’s coffers.

Although there’s no denying the tragic set-backs, Murcia’s Minister for the Environment Juan María Vázquez said he is delighted that Lorca will welcome five more breeding pairs next year.

Their addition is vital, he said, in order to “consolidate the reintroduction of such an emblematic species in the Region of Murcia and advance in the planning of reintroduction of the animal, through the European project Life Lynxconnect.”

“The Iberian lynx is an ‘endangered’ species in the Catalogue of Endangered Species of Wildlife of the Region of Murcia,” he added.

In other news: The new Primark in Parque Almenara, Lorca is now open

Image: CARM

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