Species Hang in the Balance

BINOMIAL NAME:

Lynx Pardinus

ANATOMICAL PROPORTIONS:

3-4 ft. long (tip-to-tail)/ 2-2.5 ft. tall/ 21-59 lbs.

POPULATION (APPROXIMATE):

> 100

CONSERVATION STATUS:

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

RANGE & HABITAT:

Grasslands, dense shrubbery, and trees of the Mediterranean Forest

DIET:

Small mammals (rodents, insectavores, and rabbits), birds, reptiles, and amphibians; with the European rabbit in decline, its diet now includes regional deer (formerly too large for the lynx to risk injury)

SPECIES THREATS:

Habitat fragmentation, deforestation, and the decline of its major prey item (the European rabbit), are three of the most outstanding explanations for the drastic decline of Iberian lynx populations, all across Europe (but mostly Spain).

Its gorgeous coat was mercilessly sought after, before the Iberian lynx was a federally protected species.

Traffic deaths (particularly in the last decade) have also claimed a significant portion of the already desperately low, pocket populations of Iberian lynx.

Most damaging of all to Iberian lynx numbers, were the two incidences of rabbit disease, which spread throughout Europe during the 20th century. The first disease, myxomatosis, was purposefully released into the wild by a French doctor (who found the rabbits too disturbing of his vegetable garden). The decision had devastating consequences, and myxomitosis spread like wildfire across rabbit populations, eliminating 95% of the species. The second disease, rabbit calicivirus, originated in China in the 1980's, and transmitted southwest, throughout the Iberian Peninsula; it caused nearly the same rate of rabbit mortality, as myxomatosis. Consequently, the rabbit's reliant carnivores suffered from starvation, and thus saw steep population drops---especially Spain's apex predators, which include the Iberian lynx, and the Spanish eagle (also endangered).

UNIQUE FACTS:

The Iberian lynx wears a heavy crown, as reigning king of all critically endangered cat species---it is likewise one of earth's rarest carnivores and mammals.

Although the Spanish government once paid a high bounty for killing lynx, up through the 1950s, now lynx hunting is a criminal offense. Indeed, the cat presently receives fierce conservation protection, and poachers run the risk of six months in prison, and/ or a fine of U.S. $8,000, if they are caught poaching the Iberian lynx .

DEVOTED ORGANIZATION:

SOSLynx

• SOS Lynx Apparel/ Merchendise

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