This census was developed by the LynxConnect project and is coordinated by the Andalusian Junta, bringing together several autonomous communities and Portugal.

The data shows that in Portugal, in the Guadiana Valley, there were 53 breeding females, 100 kittens, and a total of 291 specimens last year.

In Spain, in Andalusia, the population of Doñana-Aljarafe increased from 108 to 130.

In Andújar Cardeña it increased from 268 to 271, Guadalmellato from 40 to 41 and in Guarrizas from 167 to 201 lynxes.

The population of Setefilla went from nine to 11, Las Minas fell from 17 to 11, Guazurejos, from one to three and the new population of Sierra Arana, fed basically by reintroductions, went from five to 13 specimens in 2023.

In total, the Andalusian population numbers 686 of the 2,021 total, a number that includes 406 breeding females and 722 cubs.

The lynx was considered critically endangered at the beginning of the century when there were only a hundred specimens left and only in Andalusia.

Today, according to Life, “an undetermined number have dispersed across the Iberian Peninsula, some even settling in areas not initially covered by conservation work”.

These natural settlements are those in Extremadura de Ortiga (nine examples) and Valdecañas (10). Also, La Jara, which joins Las Minas, Setefilla, Ibores, Río Sotillo, Valdecigüeñas, Guazurejos, and Cornalvo in 2023 as natural settlement areas for the species.

Life emphasizes that the “upward trend” of lynxes continues, with dispersed movements from different areas of stable presence, and extending across an undefined surface of the Peninsula.

During 2023, the Lynxconnect project released 34 lynxes in the reintroduction areas created in previous Life projects and at selected points.

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