We must analyze the censuses of lynx published just a couple of days by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.
In the first place, there is no doubt of the success that is taking the program of reintroduction of the species. The mantra of keeping the bobcats where there are rabbits has worked out great, and most areas of reintroduction have become stable subpopulations where the densities of lynx and the ratio of females/puppies are encouraging.
This ratio is the thermometer perfect for measuring the health of a subpopulation. Castile-La Mancha, where you're going to kind. yields an average of about 2 pups per breeding female. Extremadura and Portugal are close, without getting to 2 but overcoming 1.6 pups per female.
You can not say the same in the only two natural populations that survived the extinction. Both have been suffocated by the lack of rabbit. Doñana is left in just 1 pup per female and Andújar-Cardeña saves the inclusion of the data from the areas of olive grove, where the abundance of rabbits enable the proper viability of the lynx.
The population in the Sierra de Andújar is stagnant in the best of cases, but in regression. It is a pity that it does not break down the data relating to this mountain range. Are likely to be dramatic. And if you were already in 2022, we are living this 2023 is even worse, with the majority of females known without raising.
In Andalusia, where there are the nearly 38% of the lynx, the only people that seem to be working correctly is the Guarrizas. In the olive groves are also showing good breeding data, but let's not forget that the olive grove ecosystem is very anthropomorphized and full of threats to the species, among them the proximity to the highway.
Guadalmellato, the first area of reintroduction of the species, which already showed a great concern in the census of 2021, continues to decline due to the absence of prey. There, 14 females gave birth to a total of 6 puppies in 2022. Does not reach the middle pup per female. This is a clear example of the ratios that show the areas with little rabbit. In the sierra de Andujar could be similar.
What does the public document of the census is to emphasize that the only meta-populations of the species has to Andújar as the cornerstone. This importance that if you are given in the text has not been reflected in actions on the ground in the last few years, and the territories linceros of the sierra is still missing. Since 2011, a strain of viral haemorrhagic disease of rabbits diezmara without mercy their populations, has rarely been more puppies and breeding females of lynx in the town of Andújar-Cardeña. The data more thrilling appeared in 2013, when to 64 females observed were born just 15 puppies. The problem is not new, it is well known and requires immediate solutions, which really come several years later.
Andújar, in addition to be found in the geographical environment of the aforementioned metapopulations, save a reservoir of unique genetic. With each bobcat that we lose in this mountain range are a few genes that are very likely to not be represented in the breeding centres.
Finally, And For Us, We Have To Mention The Emotional Component Of The Population Of Lynxes Of This Mountain Range. This Was The Stronghold Of The Species Until Very Recently. Between His Rock And Cantuesos Endured The Last Few Copies, The Last Population Really Viable Was Among The Rolling Hills And The Water-Courses Of The Sierra De Andújar. These Survivors Were Captured, Both To Save Doñana, Where The Lack Of Genetic Diversity Prevented The Correct Playback, Such As To Start A Captive Breeding Program. If We Now Have More Than 1600 Lynx In The Peninsula Is Without A Doubt Thanks To The Fact That The Valley Of The Río Jándula Protected The Last Cats Rabones. And This Valley Deserves To Continue Seeing Them For Many Years.
May 22, 2023, Sierra De Andújar
