Iberian Lynx Conservation
The Iberian Lynx, Lynx pardinus, (picture 1) is a critically endangered species native to the Iberian Peninsula In southern Europe.
Picture 1: Iberian lynx in natural habitat (13)
Picture 1: Iberian lynx in natural habitat (13)
They have a life span of up to about 13 years. Average measurements: body length= 75-100cm, tail length= 12-13cm, shoulder height= 45-70cm, weight up to 18kg.Their habitat includes open forests for shelter and thickets and plains for hunting prey. Their main prey is wild rabbits but they also hunt other small animals and birds (1) such as rodents, hares, partridges, ducks and geese in times of rabbit shortages.
The Lynx is spotted mainly in central to southern Spain and on the border with Portugal (map 1).
They are classed on the IUCN red list of threatened species as critically endangered (2) and there are as few as 220 alive in the wild.
Threats to the Iberian lynx: * Tourism and recreational development so habitat loss (2) * Map1: map of Spain and Portugal showing known lynx sites in green (14)
Map1: map of Spain and Portugal showing known lynx sites in green (14)
Agricultural and wood farming (2) * Roads and railroads(2) * Droughts(2) * Hunting and trapping (picture 2), (2) intentionally and unintentionally (rabbit traps) (2) * Food shortages (1950’s/60’s when rabbit population caught myxomatosis) (9) * They are solitary animals and with decreasing numbers (graph 1) it is becoming harder for them to find mates. (9)
Graph1: changes in lynx population between 1991 and 2006 (16)
Graph1: changes in lynx population between 1991 and 2006 (16)
Picture 2: lynx pelts collected and hung by poachers (15)
Picture 2: lynx pelts collected and hung by poachers (15)
P2
P2
Therefore which is the best method of conservation to help prevent the extinction of the Iberian
Picture 1: Iberian lynx in natural habitat (13)
Picture 1: Iberian lynx in natural habitat (13)
They have a life span of up to about 13 years. Average measurements: body length= 75-100cm, tail length= 12-13cm, shoulder height= 45-70cm, weight up to 18kg.Their habitat includes open forests for shelter and thickets and plains for hunting prey. Their main prey is wild rabbits but they also hunt other small animals and birds (1) such as rodents, hares, partridges, ducks and geese in times of rabbit shortages.
The Lynx is spotted mainly in central to southern Spain and on the border with Portugal (map 1).
They are classed on the IUCN red list of threatened species as critically endangered (2) and there are as few as 220 alive in the wild.
Threats to the Iberian lynx: * Tourism and recreational development so habitat loss (2) * Map1: map of Spain and Portugal showing known lynx sites in green (14)
Map1: map of Spain and Portugal showing known lynx sites in green (14)
Agricultural and wood farming (2) * Roads and railroads(2) * Droughts(2) * Hunting and trapping (picture 2), (2) intentionally and unintentionally (rabbit traps) (2) * Food shortages (1950’s/60’s when rabbit population caught myxomatosis) (9) * They are solitary animals and with decreasing numbers (graph 1) it is becoming harder for them to find mates. (9)
Graph1: changes in lynx population between 1991 and 2006 (16)
Graph1: changes in lynx population between 1991 and 2006 (16)
Picture 2: lynx pelts collected and hung by poachers (15)
Picture 2: lynx pelts collected and hung by poachers (15)
P2
P2
Therefore which is the best method of conservation to help prevent the extinction of the Iberian