Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), Spain.
Image: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- VU · Vulnerable
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Increasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The Iberian lynx is a medium-sized, heavily spotted cat of Spain and Portugal, with bold ear tufts and a ruff of facial fur. After teetering on the edge of extinction, it is now assessed as Vulnerable — a rare conservation success story.
It is a specialist hunter that depends heavily on a single prey animal, the European rabbit.
Range & habitat
Found in Mediterranean scrubland and woodland in parts of Spain and Portugal, on the Iberian Peninsula.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Past collapse of its main prey, the European rabbit
- Habitat loss and fragmentation
- Road collisions
Why it matters
The Iberian lynx is one of the clearest examples that intensive, sustained conservation — captive breeding, habitat restoration, and prey recovery — can pull a species back from the brink.
Reported as down-listed from Endangered to Vulnerable in 2024 after sustained recovery; confirm the current category on the live IUCN entry.
Gallery
Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus); a conservation-breeding individual.
Image: http://www.lynxexsitu.es, CC BY 3.0 es, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for Iberian Lynx
- IUCN Red List — look up Iberian Lynx (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Iberian lynx nearly go extinct?
Is the Iberian lynx recovering?
Last updated: