The one-year-old female, who was bred in captivity, is the latest alumni of one of the most successful conservation<\/a> projects of the 21st century. <\/p>\n The Iberian lynx<\/a> was on the edge of extinction around the turn of the century after hunting and successive waves of myxomatosis and pneumonia wiped out its favourite delicacy: the rabbit.<\/p>\n By 2002, there were fewer than 100 known to be alive and lynx pardinus was about to be consigned to the history books, like the dodo. <\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n The Iberian lynx was on the edge of extinction around the turn of the century (Proyecto Life Lynx Connect)<\/p>\n In an ambitious effort to save the species, over \u20ac88 million (\u00a376m) was invested in a re-wilding scheme. At least 60 per cent of the money has come from the European Union, the rest from the Spanish and Portuguese governments, regional authorities and private companies.<\/p>\n Conservationists staged a hearts and minds campaign to convince local communities, from politicians to school children and even hunters, to ensure the survival of this distinctive creature.<\/p>\n These big cats are reared in captivity then released into the wild in areas stocked with rabbits.<\/p>\n By 2023, lynx numbers reached 2,021 according to the last census, and its status has changed from being on the point of extinction to vulnerable.<\/p>\n At the next census at the end of this year, this number could rise to 2,400, conservationists say.<\/p>\n However, the Life LynxConnect project comes to an end in 2026 and now the lynx faces an uncertain future.<\/p>\n In the future, conservation<\/a> and rewilding programmes will depend on the will \u2013 and financial muscle \u2013 of regional governments around Spain<\/a> and in Portugal.<\/p>\n The reintroduction of the lynx has met resistance in Catalonia<\/a>, Aragon and parts of Castilla y Leon in northern Spain who see it as another predator.<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Caledonia, another one of the three rescued lynx, pictured in her new habitat at Highland Wildlife Park\/ (RZSS\/PA)<\/p>\n Once hunted for 4 pesetas per skin, the Iberian lynx lives in some of the most exclusive estates in rural Spain, welcomed by their wealthy hosts because they kill rival predators and make the estates more attractive for hunting.<\/p>\n An 8,000-hectare estate in Valencia de las Torres, in the south of Extremadura<\/a>, in western Spain, is home to the largest number of lynxes in the country \u2013 60 at the last count. <\/p>\n The plaything of Sheik Mansour, better known as the owner of Manchester City football club, this preserve is teeming with rabbits, deer and partridges. <\/p>\n Driving around for three hours in search of the elusive lynx, rabbits were so abundant we easily could have run one over.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, on Los Encomiendas estate, we wait at the top of a hill until the beep of the forest ranger\u2019s radio suddenly tells us a lynx is nearby.<\/p>\n Quietar, a three-year-old female, is tagged with an electronic collar, so conservationists can track her movements.<\/p>\n Suddenly, she is in front of us, almost like a domestic cat \u2013 until she darts away.<\/p>\n However not everyone is charmed.<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n (Proyecto Life Lynx Connect)<\/p>\n Farmers in Zamora, a province in northern Spain famous for its wolf population, do not welcome another predator even though the lynx kills young deer and foxes but never takes livestock.<\/p>\n In Aragon, eastern Spain, the conservative People\u2019s Party rules with the help of the far-right Vox party. But Vox, keen to ally itself with farmers\u2019 vote, has opposed the reintroduction of the lynx \u2013 for now.<\/p>\n Revolta Pagesa, a protest group in Catalonia<\/a> made up of farmers who are fond of staging tractoradas \u2013 blocking the roads with their tractors – forced the Catalan regional authorities to abandon plans to introduce the Iberian lynx.<\/p>\n Despite the lynx\u2019s voracious appetite for pests, farmers from inland Catalonia do not welcome the animal\u2019s return, even though there is a plague of rabbits around the agricultural areas near the city of Lleida.<\/p>\n Authorities shot 26,000 rabbits between January and March because the animals have ravaged crops.<\/p>\n Imma Puigcorbe, of Revolta Pagesa who is also a veterinarian, argues that research published in the Journal for Nature Conservation <\/a>shows the lynx would not help kill off the rabbit plague.<\/p>\n \u201cA study has shown that the lynx just picks on the youngest and weakest rabbits so in fact rabbit populations thrive where the lynx is present, instead of decreasing,\u201d she tells The Independent.<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Cardrona, a rescued lynx found in the Cairngorms, who now lives at the Highland Wildlife Park (RZSS\/PA)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IFLC4268-(2).jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Caledonia,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/28101212-4c56bce5-82b4-4c1c-9755-052a8d6dbe53.jpg\")
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<\/p>\n![\"Cardrona,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/28100740-018b3423-f27c-4095-98cd-fab512449d48.jpg\")
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