The Iberian Lynx

By Nicolás Ordax

This text is about one of the most wonderful creatures in the world – no, it is not a bird, I’m referring to the Iberian lynx.

The Iberian Lynx is one of the few Spanish endemic fauna species. It is an endangered animal which only lives in the Doñana National Park and the Sierra de Andújar (Jaén).

The Iberian lynx is a small feline, no longer than 110 cm and no taller than 70 cm.

Its appearance is very similar to that of the European lynx and was once a subspecies of the latter. One of its most distinctive distinguishing traits is its spots, which are rather pale in other lynx species but very dark (like a leopard) in the Iberian lynx. It has also got very big ears. Another interesting characteristic is its “beard”.

As the Iberian lynx is smaller than the other lynx species, it also hunts smaller prey.

It mostly hunts small mammals, especially rabbits, but it also eats birds, reptiles and amphibians.

Its characteristic habitat is the “Dehesa”, an open plain with high grass, bushes and occasional cork trees. It is now confined to the mountains of Jaén and the Doñana National Park on account of the destruction of its habitat.

The Iberian lynx is a critically endangered species, and of course it is illegal to hunt it. The biggest cause of death in Iberian lynxes, however, is car accidents, which take place when they cross roads at night. The Doñana National Park has started to reproduce them successfully in captivity. Let us hope that this helps the king of Spanish fauna.